As many of you probably already know, WhatsApps are announcement about the changes to his privacy policy that have made many people confused and angry, who got the impression that the messaging app would share their personal persons data with its parent company, Facebook. Since then, WhatsApp has been running up and down and trying to reassure people that nothing changes with individual chats.
The latest tactics from WhatsApp: through status messages to tell users that it is committed to their privacy. For those who are unaware – I know I’m not using it—Status is WhatsApp’s version of Instagram Stories. It allows users to share text, photo, video and GIF updates that disappear after 24 hours. In an update on Saturday seen by the edge, WhatsApp happily announced that it is now on Status and that it will inform users about new updates and features through status updates.
The announcement is followed by two brief status updates on the latest topic around WhatsApp: privacy. The company confirmed the use of status updates for the store and said that it is used so that people ‘hear directly from WhatsApp. ”
“WhatsApp cannot read or listen to your personal conversations because it is end-to-end encrypted,” reads one status, including a link to a company page about privacy.
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The page reaffirms that privacy is WhatsApp’s ‘priority’ and mentions that end-to-end conversations are encrypted and that messages are stored on your device. It also outlines a variety of features – such as group privacy settings and two-step verification – that claim that users control their privacy.
Although we have confirmed the existence of the status messages for some US and European users, the reports Verge that WhatsApp has been posting status messages about privacy in India for some time.
The company’s problems have started in early january, when WhatsApp announced its new privacy policy and told users that they would not be able to use the app unless they accepted the new terms. Some critics have said the new policy appears to be gives WhatsApp the right to share personal data, such as phone numbers or payment information, with Facebook or Instagram, another Facebook subsidiary.
Honestly, tthe new policy itself was almost impossible to comprehend, and the majority of WhatsApp users began to assume that Facebook would now be able to read their WhatsApp messages, search through their contact list and know every time left someone on ‘read’. However, if you just use WhatsApp to send friends and family, nothing changes for now. The new privacy policy only applies to businesses that use Facebook.
‘We want to be clear that the policy update do not affect the privacy of your messages with friends or family, ”said WhatsApp FAQ page, emphasizes theirs. ‘The changes relate to optional business features on WhatsApp and provide further transparency about how we collect and use data. ”
The damage was nevertheless inflicted. In the aftermath of the incident, competing messaging programs Sein and Telegram seen a surge of new users. It is noteworthy that Signal was co-founder and funded by Brian Acton, one of the original co-founders of WhatsApp who previously told people remove Facebook.
Besides the new status updates, WhatsApp has a FAQ page and slowed down the rollout of its new privacy policy from February to May. Its managers, as well as other Facebook managers, such as Instagram chief Adam Mosseri and Vice President of Facebook AR / VR Andrew Bosworth, also tried to calm the fears and anger of the user.
I mean, I understand that WhatsApp is trying to contain the consequences, but something tells me that you will not be able to fix a big mess with some status messages.