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2021 Reminders on rise as WhatsApp update deadline looms - BBC News

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Reminders on rise as WhatsApp update

deadline looms
By Zoe Kleinman
Technology reporter

2 days ago

GETTY IMAGES

Users yet to accept new terms and conditions for the messaging platform
WhatsApp will start to get "persistent" reminders aer the 15 May deadline.

The changes relate primarily to the way businesses interact with customers.

Since they were announced, in January, there has been concern about the
prospect of increased data sharing with WhatsApp's parent company,
Facebook, but this will not be changing.

Most of the app's two billion users had already accepted, the company said.

Those who do not will start to lose functionality beginning with being
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16.5.2021 Reminders on rise as WhatsApp update deadline looms - BBC News
Those who do not will start to lose functionality - beginning with being
unable to see chat lists and ending with not receiving video calls and
messages - but no accounts will be deleted.

WhatsApp to go ahead with changes despite backlash

WhatsApp extends 'confusing' update deadline

Following the January announcement, users threatened to boycott the app
and rival platforms such as Telegram and Signal saw record downloads.

But WhatsApp said it had been a victim of "misinformation".

WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted, so they can be read on the

devices of the sender and recipient only.

In an earlier post, WhatsApp said the data it shared with other Facebook
companies included:

phone number and other information provided on registration (such as

name)

information about users' phone, including make, model, and mobile

company

IP address, which indicates the location of users' internet connection

any payments and financial transactions made over WhatsApp

But this does not apply in Europe and the UK, where different privacy laws
exist.

Related Topics

Facebook WhatsApp Social media

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