Keeping users’ information confidential is in its DNA – WhatsApp
New Delhi, May 29 (IANS)| WhatsApp has taken a U-turn saying that it will not limit the functionality for users who do not accept the new privacy policy that came into effect from May 15. The Facebook-owned platform, which has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government in the Delhi High Court over chat ‘traceability’, went ahead with implementing its controversial user privacy policy from May 15, saying that those who do not accept the new changes They will see limited functionality in the coming weeks.
In a statement to The Next Web, WhatsApp said on Saturday that it will not restrict any functionality, even if users do not accept the policy for now. WhatsApp said, “Given recent discussions with various authorities and privacy experts, we would like to clarify that we currently have no plans to change how WhatsApp works for those who have not yet accepted the update.” Is.” “Instead, we will periodically remind users about updates as well as when people choose to use relevant optional features, such as communicating with a business that is receiving support from Facebook.”
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had asked social media platforms to comply with the Information Technology (Intermediate Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 by May 25 or face strict action. A WhatsApp spokesperson said that requiring messaging apps to ‘trace’ chats is equivalent to asking WhatsApp to keep a fingerprint of every single message sent. The spokesperson stressed, “This would break end-to-end encryption and fundamentally undermine people’s right to privacy. We are constantly confronting those requirements with civil society and experts around the world that would violate the privacy of our users.” WhatsApp said that we will maintain this approach at least until the upcoming PDP (Personal Data Protection) law comes into force.
(Disclaimer: This news has been published directly from news agency’s Syndicate feed. It has not been edited by AnyTV News team.)