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