WhatsApp, the world’s most renowned messaging app has issued a warning to all its users in its new privacy policy to share personal data with Facebook or lose their accounts. This mass deactivation of accounts of defaulters will begin from the first week of February.
Facebook will now be able to access the data of the users of its child company, WhatsApp which has led to privacy concerns from tech enthusiasts all over the world. However, despite these concerns, WhatsApp has maintained that February 8 is the ultimatum for users to accept the new conditions or face the consequence.
On Thursday, via an in-app alert, this information was made known to users of the app which are over 2 billion globally. WhatsApp explains that information will be collected on usage and log, location, connection, cookies, and devices.
The app which boasts of privacy and security being in its DNA assured users of data privacy back in 2014 just after it was acquired by Facebook. The assurance now seems to be in doubt owing to its latest policy changes.
In WhatsApp’s last update of its working terms with Facebook on January 5, it was revealed that users’ account registration information which includes their phone number, contacts, IP address, transaction data, device information, and so on will be accessible to third parties.