WhatsApp Updates Its 'Privacy' Rules

Uploaded on 2021-01-18 in TECHNOLOGY-Key Areas-Social Media, FREE TO VIEW, BUSINESS-Services-Law

The widely used messaging platform WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook and has more than 2 billion users, has in a surprise move, updated its privacy policy. Users are receiving this notice via a pop-up alert in the app, narrowing down on the new set of policies that are in place. This has stirred a huge debate about Facebook’s promise of privacy and keeping the user interest at stake.

WhatsApp has always said it has a commitment to security and privacy, with encrypted conversations and other important technologies integrated into the app.

But the new announcement has sparked fears of the exact opposite: that people’s information is not being kept secret. This means that users will need to agree to new terms with Facebook if they want to continue using the service after 8 February.

The really significant recent update is that WhatsApp has added new features to allow people to communicate with businesses and those businesses could be hosted by Facebook. When speaking to those contacts, messages might be stored and managed by Facebook and  those conversations could then be shared with the company more generally. 

The new agreement states: "As part of the Facebook family of companies, WhatsApp receives information from, and shares information with, this family of companies... We may use the information we receive from them, and they may use the information we share with them, to help operate, provide, improve, understand, customise, support, and market our services and their offerings," it continued.

WhatsApp users within the European region, including the UK, are receiving a separate private policy to those elsewhere in the world, since what Facebook is attempting is illegal in the EU and the UK under their GDPR data privacy rules. 

  • WhatsApp say the move is part of the company introducing new payment capabilities to the app so that people can make purchases from businesses using it. 
  • The updated policy also says that WhatsApp may send you marketing material about Facebook companies.
  • The firm will use your data collected from the app and other Facebook services for content suggestions, people recommendations, and ads along with service improvements.

Speaking at the company's developer conference in 2019, Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg said he believed "it should be as easy to send money to someone as it is to send a photo". Facebook has also said that Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp are being brought together. It said Facebook Pay would "be a seamless and secure way to make payments on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp".

Industry commentators say that Facebook has long sought to replicate the success of Chinese instant messaging app WeChat's mobile payments system. 

WeChat Pay is a popular method for cashless transactions in China and is often used in physical stores as well as online - something which has made it one of the most dominant technology companies in the country.The update will make it easier for people to make purchases and get help from businesses on the messaging platform, a company spokesperson said.

Sky:      NextWeb:       SlashGear:     Economic Times:     Independent: 

You Might Also Read:

Coming Soon: Regulation Of Social Media:

 

« Social Media Is Being Used To Turn Truth Upside Down
Video Gamers Are In The Target Area »

Perimeter 81
Cyrin

Real Attacks. Real Tools. Real Scenarios.
Schedule a demo

Sign Up: Cyber Security Intelligence Newsletter

Directory of Suppliers

WEBINAR: How To Build A Security Observability Strategy In AWS

WEBINAR: How To Build A Security Observability Strategy In AWS

Thursday, Apr 22, 2021 - Join this webinar to learn how to build a security observability strategy in AWS, covering cloud-native monitoring sources, guardrails, and automation capabilities.

CYRIN

CYRIN

CYRIN® Cyber Range. Real Tools, Real Attacks, Real Scenarios. See why leading educational institutions and companies in the U.S. have begun to adopt the CYRIN® system.

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO is the market leader in HPE Non-Stop Security, Risk Management and Compliance.

Perimeter 81

Perimeter 81

Perimeter 81 is a Zero Trust Network as a Service designed to simplify secure network, cloud and application access for the modern and distributed workforce.

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of completely automatic, fully encrypted online, cloud backup.

eBook: Practical Guide to Security in the AWS Cloud

eBook: Practical Guide to Security in the AWS Cloud

AWS Marketplace would like to present you with a digital copy of the new book, Practical Guide to Security in the AWS Cloud, by the SANS Institute.

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout

A simple and cost-effective solution to monitor, investigate and analyze data from the web, social media and cyber sources to identify threats and make better security decisions.

Cylance Smart Antivirus

Cylance Smart Antivirus

An antivirus that works smarter, not harder, from BlackBerry. Lightweight, non-intrusive protection powered by artificial intelligence. BUY NOW - LIMITED DISCOUNT OFFER.

Authentic8

Authentic8

Authentic8 transforms how organizations secure and control the use of the web with Silo, its patented cloud browser.

Jooble

Jooble

Jooble is a job search aggregator operating in 71 countries worldwide. We simplify the job search process by displaying active job ads from major job boards and career sites across the internet.

City Security Magazine

City Security Magazine

City Security magazine helps promote best security practices and keep businesses informed on a wide variety of security-related issues.

CQR

CQR

CQR is an independent provider of information security services, operating globally from offices in Australia, UK and USA.

EclecticIQ

EclecticIQ

EclecticIQ provide a Threat Intelligence Platform for analyzing and managing cyber threats.

Empow Cyber Security

Empow Cyber Security

Empow has developed a way for enterprises to orchestrate their security infrastructure, get the most out of each security product, and better mitigate attacks, while using fewer resources to do so.

Wüpper Management Consulting (WMC)

Wüpper Management Consulting (WMC)

Specialized in compliance, risk management and holistic information security WMC GmbH has longtime implementation experience in global projects.

Rippleshot

Rippleshot

Rippleshot is a fraud analytics firm that detects mass card compromises faster, allowing issuers to execute more proactive fraud detection strategies.

Thomsen Trampedach GmbH

Thomsen Trampedach GmbH

Thomsen Trampedach offers a tailored-made brand protection solution to each customer using a proprietary enforcement automation and reporting tool and a multilingual enforcement team.

CloudSphere

CloudSphere

CloudSphere’s flagship Cloud Governance Platform enables enterprises and cloud service providers to simplify and optimize cloud migration, management, and governance.