Whatsapp recently updated its privacy policy scheduled to take effect from May 15, 2021. As has been with its most recent updates, this new privacy policy is considered controversial. Sadly, you really don’t have a choice other than to accept it, unless you want to stop using the app altogether. In its support article, here is what Whatsapp says to expect before, and after May 15, 2021.
What’s new in WhatsApp’s updated privacy policy?
First, the company assures that users won’t have their accounts deleted or deactivated. “No one will have their accounts deleted or lose functionality of WhatsApp on May 15th because of this update.”
However, what individuals who don’t accept this update may face is progressively limited functionality, at least until they accept the new privacy policy update.
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What happens if you don’t accept WhatsApp’s new privacy policy?
Before then, users will be allowed to continue using Whatsapp as usual for a couple of weeks, after which period WhatsApp will begin sending persistent notifications to accept the updated privacy policy. After this, WhatsApp says “you’ll encounter limited functionality on WhatsApp until you accept the updates. This will not happen to all users at the same time.”
Whatsapp also notes that users who still do not accept this update will not be able to access their chat list but will still be able to answer incoming audio or video calls, and will eventually lose the ability to receive incoming calls or notifications as the company will stop sending messages and calls to users’ phones.
“At that time, you’ll encounter limited functionality on WhatsApp until you accept the updates. This will not happen to all users at the same time.
⦁ You won’t be able to access your chat list, but you can still answer the incoming phone and video calls. If you have notifications enabled, you can tap on them to read or respond to a message or call back a missed phone or video call.
⦁ After a few weeks of limited functionality, you won’t be able to receive incoming calls or notifications and WhatsApp will stop sending messages and calls to your phone.”
After these, Whatsapp limits your options if you still don’t accept the policy, and also reminds its users that after 120 days of inactivity, accounts will be deleted.
“You can export your chats and download a report of your account on your own. WhatsApp won’t delete your account if you don’t accept the update. Keep in mind that separately, our existing policy related to inactive users will apply.
If you’d like to delete your account on Android, iPhone, or KaiOS, we hope you reconsider. Deleting your account is something we can’t reverse as it erases your message history, removes you from all of your WhatsApp groups, and deletes your WhatsApp backups.”
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In the end, you have to accept the new policy. One way or another, these updates will be enforced. So if you want to continue using the app, accept the update. On the other hand, if you think it’s too much, you can uninstall WhatsApp.
AndroidWaves
