Almost all apps regularly update their terms of use, but rarely has such a change caused as much excitement as the new WhatsApp privacy policy.
What is remarkable about the privacy policy?
For the first time, Facebook is openly revealing details about the collection and storage of user data. Your chats are still end-to-end encrypted, but Facebook collects and a number of additional (behavioral) data:
- Cellular network, connection information (telephone number, cellular operator, or Internet service provider)
- Your phone’s battery level and signal strength
- IP address
- App version
- Browser information
- Language and time zone
- Identifiers of Facebook company products that are assigned to the same device or account
- Usage information (when you last used WhatsApp, when the account was registered and the type and frequency of use of certain features)
What if I reject the policy?
If you do not agree to the new terms of use by May 15, 2021, the Whatsapp guidelines for inactive users will automatically come into effect. Your account will not be deleted, but you can only use WhatsApp to a very limited extent. You will still receive calls and notifications for a short time, but you will no longer be able to read or send any messages. How long “a short time” is, is not specified by Facebook – it seems that Facebook is keeping a kind of back door open here. WhatsApp is de facto unusable for you as a measurement generator service.
Alternatives
There are a number of alternatives for the private sector that you as a user can use. Signal, for example, is an alternative that emphasizes privacy and is very popular. However, it can of course be the case that not everyone in your circle of friends switches to the same alternative and that you have to use several messengers in order to continue to be in contact with everyone.
This is certainly a challenge for companies, organizations, or clubs that have used WhatsApp in the past. There is segmentation into different groups which increases the communication effort. We at IKANGAI offer an alternative with qNews that works without an additional app and can be installed directly via a link. With this platform-independent solution, you can continue to reach all of your customers via a central channel and do not have to integrate several different messenger solutions.
