WhatsApp has announced its updated Privacy Policy & Terms of Service. This update includes changes related to messaging a business on WhatsApp, which is optional and provides further transparency about how we collect and use data.
As a part of the update, the Company is now offering businesses the option to manage their chats on secure Facebook infrastructure. The role of Facebook in this regard is to securely manage the messages under the business’ instructions and on behalf of the business. For full transparency, WhatsApp will let users know right at the top of a chat when a business is getting support from Facebook. It is totally up to the user whether or not they wish to message a business on WhatsApp or whether they want to communicate strictly with friends.
The update does not affect the privacy of your messages with friends or family in any way. Private chats with friends and family, whether they are one-to-one or group chats, are absolutely protected by end-to-end encryption.
Neither WhatsApp nor Facebook can read messages or hear calls between friends, family, and co-workers on WhatsApp. Owing to its very nature, WhatsApp does not keep call or message logs, is unable to see location data, and does not share user-contacts with anyone, not even Facebook – and this applies to one-to-one and group chats.
There are millions of people who communicate with businesses across India via WhatsApp. This update helps with general transparency and includes changes to describe those communications. Even though these are optional features, WhatsApp thinks it’s important for everyone to know about them. Not everyone may talk to a business today, but some will in the future. Hence it is important that everyone is aware of these options.
WhatsApp has helped millions of people connect securely across India and around the world for many years and continues to play a meaningful role in people’s lives for the long run.
