WhatsApp Explains The Repercussions Of Not Accepting It New Privacy Policy - Android

WhatsApp is relaxing the May 15 deadline for accepting its revised privacy policy. In a newly updated FAQ page, the company says users will not have their accounts deleted or lose functionality if they fail to accept the new policy by May 15th. Users will have to eventually accept WhatsApp’s terms if they want to [...]

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The post WhatsApp Explains The Repercussions Of Not Accepting It New Privacy Policy appeared first on Android Headlines.

WhatsApp is relaxing the May 15 deadline for accepting its revised privacy policy. In a newly updated FAQ page, the company says users will not have their accounts deleted or lose functionality if they fail to accept the new policy by May 15th. Users will have to eventually accept WhatsApp’s terms if they want to continue using the messaging app. However, the company is now giving them more time to do so.

Back in February, WhatsApp had stated that those who don’t accept its new privacy policy by May 15th will not have “full functionality” of the app until they accept. “For a short time, you’ll be able to receive calls and notifications, but won’t be able to read or send messages from the app,” the FAQ page read at that time.

The page has now been updated to add that while not accepting the new policy will still have those repercussions, they will not be effective from May 15th. WhatsApp says it will continue to show the notification reminding those users to accept the new terms.

The reminder will become persistent “after a period of several weeks,” it added. It’s at this point that users will start losing some functionality. You’ll first lose access to your chat list. You can still read or respond to a message through the notifications panel (if you have notifications turned on for WhatsApp). You will also be able to answer the incoming voice and video calls or call back a missed voice or video call through the notifications panel.

However, a few weeks after this, you will entirely lose access to WhatsApp. You won’t be able to receive or send messages or calls using the app. The app will not even push notifications for calls and messages anymore.

You will lose access to WhatsApp if you don’t accept its terms

The recently revised WhatsApp privacy policy, which allows it to share user data with parent company Facebook, hasn’t gone down well with its users. WhatsApp, in fact, already shares information like phone numbers with the social media giant since 2016. However, users now fear that the latest change would allow the company to give more personal information to Facebook.

A widespread backlash earlier this year saw many WhatsApp users switching to rival services such as Telegram and Signal. This forced the company to delay the change until May 15th. Now that the deadline is nearing, it has gone on to clarify the repercussions of not accepting the new policy.

WhatsApp says it will not delete your account even if you don’t accept the updated terms. However, the app will become totally useless over the next several weeks if you continue to ignore the banner that asks you to accept the new policy. You can always restore the full functionality by accepting the new WhatsApp privacy policy though.

WhatsApp’s revised privacy policy has already attracted regulatory scrutiny in Germany. It now remains to be seen if the company itself will have repercussions of forcing this change.

The post WhatsApp Explains The Repercussions Of Not Accepting It New Privacy Policy appeared first on Android Headlines.