New Privacy Policy Does Not Impact Users' Messages, Reiterates WhatsApp

WhatsApp has been asked to withdraw its new privacy policy by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, which believes the changes in it and the manner of introducing them undermines data security, privacy and user choice.

WhatsApp today reiterated that its new privacy policy which the government wants to be withdrawn, does not impact the "privacy of personal messages for anyone". "We continue to engage with the government," a spokesperson said, underscoring that though some people have not accepted the new terms of service, no account in India has been deleted or functionality impaired after May 15. "Our goal is to provide information about new options we are building that people will have, to message a business on WhatsApp, in the future. While the majority of users who have received the new terms of service have accepted them, we appreciate some people haven't had the chance to do so yet," the spokesperson said. "We will follow up with reminders to people over the next several weeks. 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," the spokesperson added. WhatsApp has been asked to withdraw its new privacy policy by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, which believes the changes in it and the manner of introducing them undermines data security, privacy and user choice.