WhatsApp is updating its terms and privacy policy: Accept it to continue using your account

WhatsApp new update: On Tuesday night WhatsApp began sending in-app notifications to its users informing them of a change to its Terms of Service and privacy policy.

"WhatsApp is updating its terms and privacy policy," the company said in the notification sent to both Android and iOS users. The notification also mentions essential updates, like how the company processes user data, how companies can use Facebook-hosted services to store and manage their WhatsApp chats, and how the company partners with Facebook, the parent company integrations across the Facebook business. Product. These are the same details that WABetaInfo mentioned in a report earlier this week.

The new terms and privacy policy of WhatsApp will take effect on February 8, 2021. Users must accept these terms and changes to continue using their WhatsApp accounts after the date mentioned above. Said, users who do not accept these changes will be banished from the platform forever.

As far as the details go, WhatsApp has also updated its website, giving interested people detailed information on changing. One of the many changes the company has made is in the data it collects. "When a user forwards media within a message, we store that media temporarily in encrypted form on our servers to aid in the more efficient delivery of additional forwards," WhatsApp shared. This section was missing the previous edition that was last updated in December 2019.

The company has also updated details about a user's connections. "If any of your contacts aren't yet using our Services, we'll manage this information for you in a way that ensures those contacts cannot be identified by us," the company further added.

The company has also added a separate section on "Transactions and payment data." If you use our payment services or use our Services for purchases or other financial transactions, we process additional information about you, including payment account and transaction information. The payment account and transaction information include the information necessary to complete the transaction. If you use our payment services available in your country or territory, our privacy practices are described in the corresponding payment privacy policy," the company added.

Besides this, WhatsApp has also detailed how it processes "device and connection information" and "location information". "We collect device and connection-specific information when you install, access, or use our Services. This includes information such as hardware model, operating system information, 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," WhatsApp wrote.

"We collect and use precise location information from your device with your permission when you choose to use location-related features, like when you decide to share your location with your contacts or view locations nearby or locations others have shared with you," the company added.

Besides this, WhatsApp has also changed the name of its section "Affiliated Companies" to "How we work with other Facebook Companies". In the updated section, WhatsApp shares how collaboration works and how it affects your daily operation. This also marks a significant shift in Facebook's approach to its companies from being individual entities to being part of its family of applications.