WhatsApp Reveals What Happens to Users Who Don't Agree to Upcoming Privacy Policy Changes

"The misperception caused a backlash..."

Another amazing thing is that Whatsapp has managed to tweak the narrative as to what has happened. Although some users indeed thought that the change would be more severe than stated, many users understood exactly and still have problems with it. But now Whatsapp has made the problem solely due to "misinformation" to the point that even tech and other news outlets carry that language.
"Your users don't hate change, they hate you"
There was no reason for them to change the ToS, and if they're crippling accounts that don't agree to the changes, it says a lot. It's annoying that WhatsApp is trying to spin this as misinformation, but it also doesn't really matter, people will lose trust either way.
 
I think the harsh reality is that most don't care , they click "Agree, Agree, Agree" on most of the popups they will ever get from any big App , assuming that big Apps will never do shady things, this is just a broad day light robbery of private information being done for everyone to see and it goes unpunished , Apple will not be enough to stop Facebook from gathering and abusing private information , it will need to be regulated in the law to have any chance to succeed , as you can see Facebook are willing to bet that most ppl will "Agree" to their agenda rather then move to another messaging app.

Regulation is way behind on this , imagine a world where you buy an Oven and you are obligated to allow the Oven company to use a microphone to hear everything you do in your home and a camera to watch it , that is if you want to use said over to cook your food , sure there are other Oven companies but they are small companies you never used and are lacking features and what not (I,e a lesser product) - I guess we can do better analogies here , but you get the idea.

This is basically where we are now , you text a friend about a new car you saw on the highway in a messaging app , 5 min goes by and you are bombarded with Car commercials in every online interaction you have for the foreseeable future , disgusting.
While I agree with the end game of what you want to have happen, I strongly disagree that more regulations and laws are the way to go. We just need to get more attention on it, and more spotlight on the issues of it. Over-regulation stifles innovation and progress.
 
Exactly why Failbook is preying on said users.
Everyone needs to pack up and give them the middle finger.
It's unfortunate, but it's reality over here. You can have your idealism, but then you won't be able to do much in life.
 
If I am only using the app for a group conversation with 1 group and that’s it-should I worry about any of the privacy features affecting me at all??
 
If I am only using the app for a group conversation with 1 group and that’s it-should I worry about any of the privacy features affecting me at all??
There’s no real telling as yet, they’ve stated it only affects contact with businesses but I find that a very frail dividing line to be honest
 
You have no idea what you’re talking about. Take a look at what happened to Parler. The various tech monopolies/duopolies allowed to exist against antitrust laws are definitely going to continue to edge out the competition, working hand-in-hand with the government. Does Amazon not have a virtual monopoly on web services, or something?

It’s not some ridiculous children’s book saying “the sky is falling,” it’s reality right in front of your face. Perhaps you should start paying attention, but that’s probably too much to ask, “LOL.”
And Parler is back using services that don't care about its members encouring rape, murder, and violence.

So relax chicken little.
 
Hopefully there will be a good jump to Signal. A slow breakup, thats how it happens. Nobody jumps platform overnight.

This is basically where we are now , you text a friend about a new car you saw on the highway in a messaging app , 5 min goes by and you are bombarded with Car commercials in every online interaction you have for the foreseeable future , disgusting.

Use ublock Origin in browser, Pihole, don't use or sign in to tracker apps like Google Chrome and Facebook. I haven't seen a relevant ad in a loooooooooong time.
 
Why is it news that you are required to accept the terms of use for a service? Not aware of any company that would permit you to continue using their services if you refuse.
 
I wish Apple would release iMessage as a cross platform messaging app. I'm using four messaging apps regularly now because my contacts have split between the different apps.

That's a great point actually, what's Apple waiting for, to be the next BBM?

For those not aware back in the day one of the great features of Black Berry was its messaging service (BBM Black Berry Messenger), but as Black Berry hardware started dying, they didn't want to open BBM to other platforms. Eventually they did but it was too late, the world had moved on.

I think there is some hope with Apple now that they are putting more priority into being a services company, as they are more things available on more platforms.
 
I would be careful using Telegram. They have moved the company HQ a UAE Freezone entity - which actually mean they are regulated by the laws of the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE have some very harsh regulations about cybersecurity and online behaviour that most people int the west would find "oppressive" or outright harmful.

So something said on Telegram could come back and bite you in the backside if you ever traveled through the UAE - despite the promises of end to end encryption. That promise - is only as good as the pressure put on the owners from a local "government" - and the local government are not too happy about any kind of encryption in the public's hands.

UAE Cybercrime law in brief: https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=16a2b1ac-565c-409c-9893-a09291197d8d
A case of this has happened recently. A British woman was about to leave Dubai when she was arrested because her flatmate went to the police to report her for swearing in a message she had sent her over whatsapp. The case is currently ongoing.

In 2019, again in Dubai, a woman was arrested for making insulting remarks against another woman in a facebook post.

People do not realise that anyone using instant messaging or social media to swear or insult a resident of UAE and that person then visits the UAE, that person can be arrested for breaking UAE's morality laws. It does not matter if you made the posts 5 or 10 years ago, if it's on the police database and it shows up when they check peoples passports at border control, they will arrest you.
 
Correct. Problem is Facebook has a history of not exactly obeying rules. And they have been caught not just once claiming this while really doing that.

I do not believe one second that they obey that legislation

Please note that this new privacy policy does not apply in the EU, as it's against GDPR to share data between Facebook and WhatsApp.

If Facebook would not obey the rules in Europe, they would face a big fine (like 1 Billion euro or so). Basically those GDPR rules where also invented to not let companies from outside Europe steal all our (meta)data for their business use. So yes, they will obey the legislation (or face the consequences).

People in Europe will not be asked to accept new privacy rules for Whatsapp - Facebook because nothing is changing for them! The fuzz is only for the world minus Europe (minus UK).
 
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I don’t understand the dilemma. If you don’t want to use a particular messaging platform, don’t use it. If your friends or colleagues stop sending you messages because of this, then you now know where you stand with them. But if you are important enough to them, they will follow you.
 
No biggie for me. I delete this **** app years ago. The built in iOS/macOS messaging and email is enough for me.
I was mostly using it when travelling because I would buy SIM card of the country I visited. Changing numbers with iMessage is just more complicated than using WhatsApp.
 
I moved over to Signal last month - took 2 minutes to set up. Brought most of my friends over with me.

Today I deleted WhatsApp on my phone and - since Messenger apparently ignores iOS’s Do Not Disturb feature (waking me up with a video call this morning at 5am) - that’s now gone too.

I’m still keeping my Facebook account for now, since it’s nice to keep all those connections with friends. But I rarely use the site, and now my phone is Facebook-free. Feels good. 😊
 
WhatsApp is reading your messages and selling your info. Before some weirdo shows up defending Facebook, I have proof, if not conspiracy theory, because it has happened to me already twice that I have stuff mentioned on WhatsApp conversations and suddenly, ads of the products start showing up on Instagram.

Facebook's blatantly lying to EVERYONE.
 
If I am only using the app for a group conversation with 1 group and that’s it-should I worry about any of the privacy features affecting me at all??
TBH Facebook doesn’t care about your conversation. It’s end to end encrypted anyway. What they want is your contact list and phone numbers, as WhatsApp users will highly likely use their actual primary phone number. That’s the gold mine.

For the content, the one we need to worry about us Google, since the chat backups in Google drive is not encrypted.
 
WhatsApp? You mean the app that Telegram replaced?
People kept taking highly about Telegram, but imo it’s not even a good replacement. Telegram doesn’t enable end to end encryption by default (which is worse than WhatsApp), only secret chats. And it’s been shown that Telegram can delete/ban public groups as they see fit. Doesn’t sound like a good platform to me.

Signal seems to be the better route if privacy is a concern.
 
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