Other apps collect more data: WhatsApp WhatsApp In Affidavit Mentions That Tech Giants Like Zoom & Google Have Similar Privacy Policies

Other apps collect more data: WhatsApp

WhatsApp In Affidavit Mentions That Tech Giants Like Zoom & Google Have Similar Privacy Policies

Anam.Ajmal@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:14.05.2021 

Days before the rollout of its new privacy policy on Saturday (May 15), WhatsApp has said that many internet-based applications and websites have similar policies and some collect even more data.

In an affidavit filed in the Delhi HC on May 5, the Facebook-owned instant messaging app said that Big Basket, Koo, Ola, Truecaller, and Zomato as well as the government’s contact tracing app Aarogya Setu collects similar data that WhatsApp does. The affidavit also mentions that American giants like Zoom and Google have similar privacy policies.

This affidavit was filed in response to a petition filed by advocate Harsha Gupta, who had argued that WhatsApp’s new policy violates a user’s right to privacy.

On Thursday, WhatsApp told TOI in a statement sent over email that users will not lose functionality if they do not accept its new terms on May15. “WhatsApp continues to provide an important way for friends and family to stay in touch during this difficult time. While the majority of users have already approved our update, no one will lose functionality on May 15 if they haven’t yet and we’ll be sure to provide reminders at a later time. We want everyone to know that this update does not impact the privacy of personal messages. We’re providing information about new options we are building to communicate with businesses that people may choose to use in the future. We’re grateful for the important role WhatsApp plays in people’s lives and we’ll take every opportunity to explain how we protect people’s personal messages and private information.”

On Wednesday, too, WhatsApp had reassured users that their accounts would not be deleted. “No one will have their accounts deleted or lose functionality of WhatsApp on May 15th because of this update.” The reassurance, however, came with a caveat. The giant has said that after “persistent reminders” to users they will “encounter limited functionality on WhatsApp until you accept the updates”.

“After a few weeks of limited functionality, you won’t be able to receive incoming calls or notifications and WhatsApp will stop sending messages and calls to your phone,” the announcement added.

The impending WhatsApp privacy policy, announced in January, had led to concerns among rights experts and activists, who had said it would dilute the privacy provided by the platform by maximising data collection. The company had refuted these claims, and assured users that the new terms would impact only business accounts.

Initially, the company had planned to implement the policy by February 8, which was postponed after public outrage, and a movement to other platforms, including Signal and Telegram. Activists had termed WhatsApp’s move as giving users no options, and “coercing their consent”, since the technology giant had announced that users’ accounts would get deleted if they did not accept the new terms.

The Facebook-owned app says Big Basket, Koo, Ola, Truecaller, Zomato and the government’s Aarogya Setu collects similar data that WhatsApp does