quote:

WhatsApp will force users to agree to its new privacy policy within the next month, or else lose access to the app.

Agreeing to the terms will mean that a user’s private data, including their phone number, will be shared with Facebook, which owns WhatsApp.

All users must agree to the new terms by 8 February 2021, or else lose access to their chats and contacts.

The update comes in the form of an in-app notification, which users can choose to ignore until the date arrives.

The four best WhatsApp alternatives

“By tapping Agree, you accept the new terms, which take effect on February 8, 2021,” the notification states.

“After this date, you’ll need to accept the new terms to continue using WhatsApp. You can also visit the Help Center if you would prefer to delete your account."

The update is designed to “offer integrations across the Facebook Company Products”, which also includes Instagram and Messenger.

“There are no changes to WhatsApp’s data sharing practices in the European region (including UK) arising from the updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. For the avoidance of any doubt, it is still the case that WhatsApp does not share European region WhatsApp user data with Facebook for the purpose of Facebook using this data to improve its products or advertisements," the spokesperson said.

Data collected includes “battery level, signal strength, app version, browser information, mobile network, connection information (including phone number, mobile operator or ISP), language and time zone, IP address, device operations information, and identifiers (including identifiers unique to Facebook Company Products associated with the same device or account)."

Some WhatsApp users criticised the new privacy policy on social media, with many saying they planned to move to a rival messaging app like Telegram.

“This new WhatsApp privacy policy update is CREEPY and we should be concerned about it,” one user wrote on Twitter.

With around 2.5 billion users worldwide, WhatsApp is by far the most popular messaging app in the world.

However, since it was acquired by Facebook in 2014 for $19 billion, it has faced criticism for the way it handles users’ data.

WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum stepped down as the firm’s chief executive in 2018 due to a reported irreconcilable clash over Facebook’s decision to monetise personal data in the app.

An older version of WhatsApp’s privacy policy stated: “Respect for your privacy is coded into our DNA. Since we started WhatsApp, we’ve aspired to build our Services with a set of strong privacy principles in mind.”

This line is no longer present in the latest version.

The new policy also means that simply deleting the app from a device will not prevent WhatsApp from retaining a user’s private data. To ensure WhatsApp no longer continues to do this, users must instead use the in-app feature for deleting their account.

The policy notes that even after using this delete feature, some data will remain with the company, stating, “when you delete your account, it does not affect your information related to the groups you created or the information other users have relating to you, such as their copy of the messages you sent them.”

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Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
I just installed Signal. I've been growing very suspect of WhatsApp as of late. I'll be all too happy to abandon them.

quote:

Originally posted by Lefty Sig:
When FB messenger censored the link I sent to a friend about the Hunter Biden laptop stuff, I knew it was time to dump messenger.

1. iMessage is a bit wonky. If the iThing owner is on WiFi Calling they'll still be able to message other iThing users, but not users of SMS/MMS, such as Android users.
   
2. iMessage messages are stored on Apple's servers. I know Apple encrypts iCloud data. I presume they do with iMessage data stores. But still...
   

quote:

Originally posted by Lefty Sig:
What's App is the dominant messaging app used in India and Latin America. WeChat is the only game in China and we know it's not secure at all, since the government monitors it.

When I try to get people with iPhones who use WeChat, What's App, or FB messenger, to use iMessage instead, they act like it's a big hassle and are all confused about using it for inexplicable reasons.

When FB messenger censored the link I sent to a friend about the Hunter Biden laptop stuff, I knew it was time to dump messenger.

quote:

Originally posted by Largefarva:
I’ve been thinking that maybe this is something we should all consider looking at doing, in case the big tech/governmental cancel tour continues and shuts sites like these forums down. We need a way to stay in contact with each other. Problem would be figuring out a way to share each other’s info so we can get connected (on whichever messaging service we feel is secure enough).

quote:

Originally posted by flashguy:

quote:

Originally posted by Largefarva:
I’ve been thinking that maybe this is something we should all consider looking at doing, in case the big tech/governmental cancel tour continues and shuts sites like these forums down. We need a way to stay in contact with each other. Problem would be figuring out a way to share each other’s info so we can get connected (on whichever messaging service we feel is secure enough).

Another gun forum I visit (yes, there are others) is resident on a host that has very strict rules about what can be posted, and there are severe restrictions on permissible subject matter. There is no guarantee that another venue could be found that would be as permissive as SF currently is.

flashguy

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Originally posted by ruger357:
I’m happy with signal and telegram.

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Originally posted by Micropterus:
I never heard of Signal. I just use the default SMS Samsung ap that came on my phone. I see Jack Dorsey (Twitter) endorses Signal. Well that's encouraging.