WhatsApp: Won’t limit functionality, reminders to continue

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 3

After the government told the Delhi High Court that WhatsApp was forcing users to consent to the changed privacy policy by bombarding them with notifications, the instant messaging platform said it would not limit the functionality of the platform for users who do not comply with the privacy terms.

Government’s accusations

• Centre has informed the Delhi High Court that WhatsApp has been trying to force its users to consent to the new privacy policy before the Personal Data Protection Bill becomes a law
• It says the social messaging platform has been bombarding users with notifications daily to obtain their consent

A WhatsApp spokesperson today said, “We reiterate that we have already responded to the Government of India and assured them that the privacy of users remains our highest priority. As a reminder, the recent update does not change the privacy of people’s personal messages. Its purpose is to provide additional information about how people can interact with businesses if they choose to do so. We will not limit the functionality of how WhatsApp works in the coming weeks.”

Privacy intact

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The platform said it would continue to remind users from time to time about the update as well as when people choose to use relevant optional features, like communicating with a business that is receiving support from Facebook. The recent update does not change the privacy of people’s personal messages.

The platform said it would continue to remind users from time to time about the update as well as when people choose to use relevant optional features, like communicating with a business that is receiving support from Facebook. “We hope this approach reinforces the choice that all users have whether or not they want to interact with a business. We will maintain this approach until at least the forthcoming Personal Data Protection law comes into effect,” it said.