/ciol/media/agency_attachments/c0E28gS06GM3VmrXNw5G.png)
Follow Us/ciol/media/post_banners/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/WhatsApp-to-introduce-Protect-Backup-feature-soon.jpg)
WhatsApp has started rolling out its updated Terms of Service (ToS) to select users. The updated ToS will come into effect on February 8, 2021. The company has made it clear that uses will have to accept the new ToS to keep using the app after February 8.
The company in its Key Updates section, that they updated on January 4 stated:
Respect for your privacy is coded into our DNA. Since we started WhatsApp, we’ve built our services with a set of strong privacy principles in mind. In our updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy you’ll find:
• Additional Information On How We Handle Your Data. Our updated Terms and Privacy Policy provide more information on how we process your data, and our commitment to privacy. For example, we’ve added more information about more recent product features and functionalities, how we process your data for safety, security and integrity, and added more direct links to user settings, Help Center articles and how you can manage your information.
• Better Communication With Businesses. Many businesses rely on WhatsApp to communicate with their customers and clients. Thus, we work with businesses that use Facebook or third parties to help store and better manage their communications with you on WhatsApp.
• Making It Easier To Connect. As part of the Facebook Companies, WhatsApp partners with Facebook to offer experiences and integrations across Facebook’s family of apps and products.
What does the update signify?
A WABetaInfo report says that WhatsApp has started rolling out its updated Terms of Service (ToS) to select users. The updated ToS will come into effect on February 8, 2021. Another screenshot shared by the blog site shows the key changes. This includes how it processes users’ data, also, how businesses can use Facebook hosted services to store and manage their WhatsApp chats and how the messaging app partners with Facebook to offer integrations across the Facebook Company Products.
/ciol/media/post_attachments/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/WhatsApp-Terms-of-Service-pop-up.jpg "WhatsApp Terms of Service pop up")
Accepting these new terms won’t change your chat experience: your chats, messages, calls and status updates are still end-to-end encrypted. But if you don't accept them, your app might stop working. Further, the company even gives you an option to delete the account, if you don't want to accept the ToS.
Newer Updates
The report also suggests that WhatsApp is working on a feature that allows using your account on multiple devices at the same time. That too without requiring an active Internet connection on the main device. Today, WhatsApp is working on the possibility to offer WhatsAppWeb BETA to their users, so they can try the multi-device feature.