WhatsApp says it will not limit functionality for users who do not accept the new privacy policy
After the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) sent a letter to WhatsApp asking them to withdraw their Privacy Policy and TOS update. In response, WhatsApp has stated that the company will not be limiting functionality for users who are yet to accept the update, instead they will continue to show reminders to accept. WhatsApp also clarified that the update does not affect the privacy of their users’ personal messages.
In the letter, the MeitY expressed their concerns in how WhatsApp was enforcing the new privacy policy updates that takes away the choice from Indian. The Ministry gave WhatsApp 7 days to reply with a satisfactory response, or else the Ministry will look into legal measures.
Some WhatsApp users who have not accepted privacy policy yet lose the calling feature
Some WhatsApp users who have not accepted privacy policy yet lose the calling feature
Some WhatsApp users have started losing basic features like audio and video calls. These are the after-effects that the Facebook-owned company had said would gradually show for users after persistent reminders to accept the new privacy policy.
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(Picture: Reuters)
HIGHLIGHTS WhatsApp had previously noted that its users not accepting the new terms of service will gradually lose the app s basic features.
Now, some users who have not accepted the new terms of service have lost the calling functionality on WhatsApp.
Synopsis
It, however, would continue to nudge users to allow them to share data of business transactions to third party companies including its parent Facebook
AP
Daniel Reinhardt/dpa via AP
WhatsApp has told the government that it will not restrict the functionality of the messaging app for Indian users who do not accept its contentious privacy policy till the country s proposed personal data protection law comes into effect. It, however, would continue to nudge users to allow them to share data of business transactions to third party companies including its parent Facebook, people familiar with the development said. They will wait for the Personal Data Protection Bill to be passed. Till then, WhatsApp will send reminders to accept the new policy and not disable any feature, a senior government official told ET. The Bill which is currently with the Joint Parliamentary Committee is likely to be tabled in the Parliament later this year.
Highlights
Days after the government directed the messaging platform to withdraw its new privacy policy, a WhatsApp spokesperson said the company has responded to the letter and has assured that the privacy of users remains the highest priority for the Facebook-owned entity.
Its purpose is to provide additional information about how people can interact with businesses if they choose to do so, the spokesperson added.
WhatsApp had been warned that necessary steps in accordance with the law will be taken if a satisfactory response was not received within seven days.
Amid facing criticisms over its controversial privacy policy, WhatsApp has finally admitted that it will not limit the functionality for those users who do not agree to its new privacy policy but will continue to remind users about the update, and maintain this approach till the forthcoming data protection law comes into effect.
This is for the very first time, WhatsApp has been given a strict warning by challenging it with legal action from the government which if decoded means that the government of India will leave no stone unturned to pursue all legal actions at hand to protect “to protect the sovereign rights” of Indian citizens.