As many of you probably already know, WhatsApp ad the changes to its privacy policy have confused and annoyed many people, who were given the impression that the messaging app would start sharing their personal data data with the parent company, Facebook. Since then, WhatsApp has been running up and down, trying to reassure people that nothing changes with individual chats.
The newest WhatsApp tactic: Telling users that it is dedicated to their privacy through status messages. For those who are unknown – I know I don’t use them –condition is the WhatsApp version of Instagram Stories. Allows users to share text, photos, videos, and GIF updates that disappear after 24 hours. In a Saturday update spotted by Virgin, WhatsApp has gladly announced that it is now on Status and will inform users about new updates and features through status updates.
The announcement was followed by two brief status updates on the hottest topic around WhatsApp right now: privacy. The company confirmed the use of plug-in status updates and said it uses them so that people can “hear directly from WhatsApp. ”
“WhatsApp cannot read or listen to your personal conversations because they are encrypted from one end to the other,” a statement was read, including a link to a company page about privacy.
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The page reaffirms that privacy is WhatsApp’s “priority” and states that conversations are end-to-end encrypted and that messages are stored on your device. It also highlights a number of features – such as group privacy settings and two-step verification – that it claims provide users with privacy control.
Although we have confirmed the existence of status messages for some users in the US and Europe, the reports Verge that WhatsApp has been posting status messages about privacy in India for some time.
The company’s problems have begun into the early January, at which point WhatsApp revealed its new privacy policy and told users that they will not be able to use the app unless they agree to its new terms. Some critics have said that the new policy has emerged grant WhatsApp the right to share personal data, such as phone numbers or payment information, with Facebook or Instagram, another Facebook affiliate.
Honestly, tthe new policy itself was almost impossible to understand and most WhatsApp users have begun to assume that Facebook will now be able to read their WhatsApp messages, search through their contact list and know every time he let someone “read”. in any case, if only use WhatsApp to send messages to friends and family, nothing is changing yet. The new privacy policy only applies to companies that use Facebook.
“We want to be clear that updating the policy not affects in any way the confidentiality of your messages with friends or family “, said WhatsApp on its website Frequently asked questions page, their accent. “The changes are related to the optional business features on WhatsApp and provide additional transparency on how we collect and use data. ”
However, the damage was done. Following this incident, rival messaging applications Signal and Telegram has seen an increase in new users. It is noteworthy that Signal was co-founded and funded by Brian Acton, one of the original co-founders of WhatsApp, who previously told people to delete Facebook.
Besides his new one status updates, WhatsApp has created a Frequently asked questions page and delayed launch of its new privacy policy from February to May. Its directors, as well as other Facebook executives, such as the Instagram boss Adam Mosseri and vice president of Facebook AR / VR Andrew Bosworth, also tried to calm users’ fears and anger.
I mean, I understand that WhatsApp is trying to contain the consequences, but something tells me that you won’t be able to fix such a big mess with a few status messages.