If you use WhatsApp, you will know that the app’s terms of use changed on February 8, 2021. At that time, the service notified users that, if they did not accept the new policy, the app would become unusable. Clearly, this is something no one wants.
This news is not new. However, more information about its applicability in the European Union (EU) recently became known. Therefore, it is important to revisit the topic and understand how WhatsApp’s changes affect users and what can be done.
What were the changes from 2021?
That year, WhatsApp announced significant changes in the use of the service. Among them:
- Sharing information with Facebook to improve the user experience. The company’s goal is to be able to offer people more relevant and personalized ads.
- Tracking your activity on the service to give you recommendations about its products. This means that if you use products like WhatsApp Business, they could recommend related products or services to you.
- Application of new laws to data stored on the platform. This law will include information such as logs about messages, contacts, calls and locations. This information will be stored for the time allowed by law.
How does Facebook relate to these changes?
Ever wondered why Facebook bought WhatsApp? It’s possible that the usage policy changes the company has been implementing may be an answer.
The new terms and conditions will allow Facebook to know more about you than ever before. This means that advertisers will have greater access to your information.
Thanks to this they will be able to show relevant ads to the right people, which means better digital marketing results for them. This in turn will help generate profits for WhatsApp and its owner, Facebook, and thus also increase the share price for investors.
What are the commitments WhatsApp has made to the EU?
Under the new agreement, WhatsApp has committed to provide users with clearer information about the data it collects and how it is used. It will also give them more control over their data, including the ability to choose whether or not to share it with Facebook.
The messaging service will also respect people’s choices regarding updates to its terms of service and privacy policy. In addition, it will not make them mandatory unless they are necessary to comply with legal or regulatory requirements.
The agreement between WhatsApp and the European Commission is an important step to protect consumers in the digital age. It shows that companies must take their responsibilities regarding data protection and privacy seriously.
As WhatsApp users, we must be attentive to the changes proposed by the apps, as ultimately we are the ones affected.
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