(Reuters) – WhatsApp Facebook Inc. said on Thursday it would continue the controversial update of its privacy policy, but would allow users to read it “at its own pace” and also display a banner providing additional information.
In January, the messaging platform informed users that it was preparing a new privacy policy, based on which it could share limited data about users with Facebook and its group companies.
It has sparked a worldwide outcry and sent users to rival Telegram and Signal apps, among others, prompting WhatsApp to delay the launch of the new policy until May and clarify that the update was focused on allowing users to send messages to companies and not affect personal conversations.
In India, the largest user base of the messaging app, Facebook executives asked questions to a parliamentary panel about the need for changes, days after the country’s technology ministry asked the messaging platform to withdraw them.
In its latest blog bit.ly/3ufc9Eq, WhatsApp said it will start reminding users to review and accept updates to continue using the messaging platform.
“We have included even more information to try to solve the problems we are hearing,” the document added.
The WhatsApp announcement comes as Facebook’s parents moved to block all news content in Australia on Thursday in the face of backlash from publishers and politicians, prompting a senior British MP to label the move as an attempt to intimidate a democracy .
Reporting by Shubham Kalia and Anuron Kumar Mitra in Bengaluru; Edited by Krishna Chandra Eluri