WhatsApp Uses Status Updates to Remind Users About Its Privacy Commitments

[MacRumors]

WhatsApp has started using Status messages to remind its users of the messaging service's "commitment to your privacy," following the recent confusion regarding changes to its privacy policy last month.

"WhatsApp is now on Status," the message begins. "We'll let you know about new features and updates here. One thing that isn't new is our commitment to your privacy. WhatsApp can't read or listen to your personal conversations as they're end-to-end encrypted. Stay tuned for more updates!"

The Stories-style in-app messages began appearing over the weekend for users in the U.S. and the U.K., while users in India have reportedly been receiving them for longer. In a statement given to The Verge, WhatsApp explained the reasoning behind the move:

"There's been a lot of misinformation and confusion around our recent update and we want to help everyone understand the facts behind how WhatsApp protects people's privacy and security," a WhatsApp spokesperson told The Verge. "Going forward, we're going to provide updates to people in the Status tab so people hear from WhatsApp directly. Our first update reaffirms that WhatsApp cannot see your personal messages, and neither can Facebook, because they are protected by end-to-end encryption."

WhatsApp first announced its new usage terms early last month, and the changes at the time suggested WhatsApp would share additional data with Facebook such as phone number, service-related information, IP address, and transaction data. WhatsApp has since made it clear that the update does not affect data sharing with Facebook in terms of user chats or profile information, with the new terms instead applying to those who use the business chat feature.

Via posts on social media, WhatsApp has assured users that its privacy policy update does not affect the privacy of messages. It has also added to its FAQ to address users' privacy concerns relating to data sharing with Facebook.

However, that hasn't stopped an exodus of millions of users from the service to rival messaging apps like Telegram and Signal, both of which have been quick to exploit the situation to their advantage.

Telegram has since added the ability for users to import their chat history from WhatsApp so they won't lose old conversations, while Signal recently got an update containing several new features clearly designed to appeal to former WhatsApp users.

Owing to the confusion, WhatsApp says it has opted to delay the new privacy policy changes for three months, but it is not canceling them.

Article Link: WhatsApp Uses Status Updates to Remind Users About Its Privacy Commitments

 

[Eddy Munn]

WhatsApp uses its most annoying feature to lie to users.

 

[aleni]

It’s too late Mark! The flocks have already immigrated.

 

[macintoshmac]

Users are going to be more annoyed than ever. People use status updates for friends and family, to stay abreast with quick highlight updates from people they know. That is not the space for a company to come barging in and get their attention.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

No, really, we believe you.

 

[2979382]

Contrary to Mark's belief, more and more users are able to read the actual privacy policy, and share that info with their friends and relatives. Mark thinking that's not the case, is an insult to human intelligence.

 

[Manuphoto]

They might not read the messages themselves but they will log who wrote to whom, from where, at what time. They do this in coordination with regard the Facebook pixel that most websites have and then have a pretty good idea what people might be talking about, or at least interested in. Then they show your contacts ads relevant to this. That isn’t a good way to respect privacy... Go rot in hell Facebook and Co. it’s really too bad, WhatsApp and Instagram where such good apps...

 

[PJWilkin]

Just say NO to any Facebook property

For any of your friends on WhatsApp, advise them to move to Signal
it may not have all the bells and whistles
but it not mine your data/information like Facebook does

 

[jonnysods]

You can dress it up all you want - there is no privacy!

 

[haruhiko]

WhatsApp uses its most annoying feature to lie to users.

Hahahaa! Can’t be more accurate to describe the situation.

 

[Balkon]

The communication seems to be encrypted but the app still can read all the messages and also the backups are completely unencrypted.

 

[SWAON]

It's late over due, Facebook. Trust can't be reversed so easily.

 

[Td1970]

The biggest problem is most people want the free use of software. They really don’t care about data mining.

google offers a great service free of cash to the customer. That’s what will be used.

 

[Anson_431]

Nobody. ABSOLUTELY NOBODY.

Facebook: Let's remind users we are liars using a function that we copied from Snapchat and nobody uses

 

[JPSaltzman]

Yeah, and if you're dumb enough to believe that piece of malarky ("Facebook can't monopolize and harvest my private info?! No way!!") , I've got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you....

 

[mazz0]

One thing that isn't new is our commitment to your privacy.

?
They can’t possibly have kept a straight face whilst they wrote that!

 

[mazz0]

Also, I’ve read and heard a few people saying Facebook can’t read the contents of your messages because they’re end to end encrypted, so that will never happen. I think that’s an over simplistic and dare I say it naive view. The data is decrypted on your device - there’s no reason they can’t do some parsing of it there and send the results back to Facebook. I’m not saying they do that now, but it’s certainly something they could do in future. Perhaps start with something very basic that people won’t object to, and gradually build up from there. Does that sound like something Facebook would do?

 

[I7guy]

Too late Whatsapp, you are gone from my device.

 

[jimbobb24]

No Facebook, no Google, no Twitter. Sorry WhatsApp I cannot trust any of you to be good corporate citizens. You have to go.

 

[Bitácora]

"we can't read or listen your personal conversations, but soon we will know everything else about you" would have been more accurate.

 

[pratikindia]

Already moved to Signal. Due to this sharing issues, I did not join WA till 2017 when I had to join as everyone was using (they had no iPhone). But now I have move to Signal and family members too. Bye bye WhatsApp.

 

[Yptcn]

I deleted Facebook over 3 years ago and last month WhatsApp and Instagram and I will never look back ! I have now more contacts on Signal than I ever had before and a few on Telegram.
Does anyone have an idea about how many people deleted WhatsApp ?

 

[Powerguru]

This Data mine is about to collapse. Everyone run!!
Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Twitter. “FTW Instantly”. Who thought giving a giant megaphone to every idiot out there was a good idea.

 

[jjudson]

The most disturbing thing that caused my wife to drop Facebook (I never had it) was a recent trip we made to Charlotte. We were passing a Crate and Barrel store. The store was in a plaza near a mall surrounded by many stores. We never shop at Crate and Barrel, and my wife is not on any of their mailing lists. As we were driving by, my wife remarked: "I'd like to stop in Crate and Barrel". That is all she said. She did not look anything up on her phone and we were not using any map program at the time (we only have Googlemaps and Apple Maps). She did not have Facebook open on her phone at the time. I told her we had to be somewhere at a certain time and we couldn't stop. We continued past and went on our way. When we returned home a few hours later, my wife opened Facebook on her device and guess what? The top ad was Crate and Barrel. I wish I could say this was the only time this has happened, but we've noticed other incidents, but none as isolated as this.

I've heard so many say that Facebook doesn't listen to conversations. I call BS. It's creepy, annoying, and yes, a bit frightening.

We dropped Facebook right after this episode and haven't looked back. Zuckerburg is scum.

 

[B4U]

Does Mark simply tell lies in front of a mirror AND believe everything?