WhatsApp to roll out in-app banner to explain the new privacy policy

Following the backlash for its Privacy policy, WhatsApp, in a blog post has announced that it will display an in-app banner. The banner promises to lead you to the company's post that talks about/explains the new privacy policy. The post will address user concerns on what data it shares with its parent company, Facebook.

The blog also took a dig at rivals Telegram and Signal. Telegram and Signal have leapt in userbase after WhatsApp announced its privacy policy. “We’ve seen some of our competitors try to get away with claiming they can’t see people’s messages – if an app doesn’t offer end-to-end encryption by default that means they can read your messages,” it stated. Telegram does not offer end-to-end encryption, the founder has said. The blog further added, “Other apps say they’re better because they know even less information than WhatsApp. We believe people are looking for apps to be both reliable and safe, even if that requires WhatsApp having some limited data.”

About the in-app banner rollout

In the coming weeks, WhatsApp will roll out a small, in-app banner on top of the chats. With it, it will ask users to re-review the privacy policies. Initially, the app displayed a warning-like pop-up that asked users to accept the policy or stop using the app.

In the new feature, when users click on “to review,” the app will take them to explain the privacy policy changes. It will also include details about how WhatsApp works with Facebook. Further, it explains how WhatsApp’s updates will not impact the privacy of users’ conversations. The company has stressed that the updates concern WhatsApp Business users and their information. The post, lastly, reminds users to review and accept its updates to keep using WhatsApp before May 15.

It said, “In the coming weeks, we’ll display a banner in WhatsApp providing more information that people can read at their own pace. We’ve also included more information to try and address concerns we’re hearing. Eventually, we’ll start reminding people to review and accept these updates to keep using WhatsApp.”

What do WhatsApp and Facebook claim (for the Privacy Policy)?

In the blog post, WA said, “We think it’s important people know how we can provide WhatsApp for free. Every day, millions of people start a chat with a business because it’s easier to do so than placing a phone call or exchanging emails. We charge businesses to provide customer service on WhatsApp—not people. Some shopping features involve Facebook so that businesses can manage their inventory across apps.”

It added, “The update includes new options people will have to message a business on WhatsApp, and provides further transparency about how we collect and use data. While not everyone shops with a business on WhatsApp today, we think that more people will choose to do so in the future and its important people are aware of these services. This update does not expand our ability to share data with Facebook.”

Facebook-CEO, Mark Zuckerberg has previously defended the new privacy policy. He had said that the policy will help small businesses grow. It will give them access to analytics or targeted advertising like any big company. Evidently, that means that the company will share user data with Facebook to help with "targeted advertising" - but that's beside point for this post.

So, what data does WhatsApp share with Facebook?

In January, the app introduced a privacy policy update. It talked about how we have to allow the app to share our commercial data with Facebook. The update also confirmed that the companies can use the data for cybersecurity as well as targeted advertising and personalized content on the main app. The company maintains that the latest Privacy Policy enables users with the following business-related options:

• Enabling customer service through the platform in terms of chatting with business or asking questions.
• Personalised ads for users based on the ads they click on Facebook on Instagram; helping users chatting with those business owners through a dedicated WhatsApp icon.
• Some businesses with a shop on Facebook or Instagram can also have shops on their WhatsApp business profile. This will allow users to see a business’s products on Facebook and Instagram and shop from it directly through WhatsApp.

Read more: Privacy Over Money: Petition wants SC to Ask WA Not To ‘Lower Privacy Standards’