February 18 (Reuters) – WhatsApp Facebook Inc. said on Thursday it would continue to controversially update its privacy policy, but would allow users to read it “at its own pace” and also display a banner that provides additional information.
The messaging platform set new terms in January, with the aim of increasing commercial transactions on the platform.
Updating the policy would allow the Facebook owner and its affiliates to collect user data, including their phone number and location, which sparked a worldwide outcry and a slew of new users to competitors Telegram and Signal, among others.
WhatsApp then moved to delay the launch of the new policy until May in February and tried to clarify that the update was focused on allowing users to send messages with companies and will not affect personal conversations, which will continue to have encryption from end to end.
In the latest blog post, 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. (Reporting by Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)