WhatsApp changes from today: what happens to those who “do not accept”

The new privacy policy takes effect on Saturday, May 15, 2021: the popular instant messaging service updates the terms of use. No accounts will be deleted, but those who do not consent will receive a persistent full screen reminder and gradually have limited access to features until they accept the updates. The novelty, however, does not concern everyone.

WhatsApp changes as of today, Saturday, May 15: users of the popular instant messaging service must accept the new privacy terms. Today, in fact, the terms of use and the privacy policy of WhatsApp will be updated. The novelty, however, does not concern everyone. Mark Zuckerberg’s company first tried to update its terms of service a few months ago. Initially scheduled for February 8, the date had been moved by the Facebook-owned company after the discontent of users and the intervention of European and Italian authorities who accused the app of lack of clarity. Many users downloaded alternative platforms such as Signal and Telegram after WhatsApp announced that the new terms would go into effect on February 8.

The viral messages had quickly spread in alarmist chains, according to which the new agreement would give WhatsApp the right to read user messages and hand over the information to Facebook. So WhatsApp was forced to delay the update and launch an ad campaign explaining that the new deal was simply focused on a new set of features that allowed users to message businesses on the app. That is why today the tech giant is gradually advancing. But let’s see what changes in practice. And for whom.

What happens on WhatsApp from today May 15

Leaving aside the controversy and doubts about privacy, the necessary premise is that the news concerns WhatsApp Business, the version that companies mainly use to get in touch with their customers. You will see some major changes from now on. Basically, although with various limitations, companies will be able to use the data contained in the conversations for marketing purposes (which will also affect the ads on Facebook and other social networks). However, for European users who use the standard version of the application, due to the GDPR (the General Regulation for the protection of personal data 2016/679) nothing will change substantially compared to the previous regime. In short, with the new information, nothing changes in conversations between friends and family, but only for those that refer to companies.

The full screen reminder

The company itself explains that accounts will not be deleted on May 15 and that no functions will be lost as a result of this update. WhatsApp explains that “in recent weeks we have

shown a notification in the application with more information. After giving everyone the time to verify the submitted information, we continue to remind those who have not yet done so to verify and accept it. . A period of a few weeks, the reminder will be persistent. ” And it will be from this moment, which is when the persistent full screen reminder is received, that the user will have “limited access to functions” until they accept the updates. However, this will not happen to all users at the same time. Let’s take some practical examples:

• You will not be able to access the chat list, but you will be able to answer incoming calls and video calls;
• if notifications have been enabled, you can touch to read or reply to messages, or call back in case of a missed call or video call;
• After a few weeks with limited functionality, “you will not be able to receive incoming calls or notifications and WhatsApp will stop sending messages and calls to your phone.”

A WhatsApp spokesperson explained: “We have spent the last few months providing our users with more information about the update. By now, most of the people who received it have already accepted the update. The accounts of those who do not receive it still had the opportunity to accept the update, however, they will not be canceled or lose functionality on May 15. We will continue to send reminders to these users within WhatsApp in the coming weeks. “

Shared user data

Facebook and WhatsApp already share some data of their users, such as the telephone number provided during registration and some information about the technological device used (such as the version of the operating system and the application and the monitoring of the different consents granted over the years), but “WhatsApp does not share your personal information with Facebook to improve your experiences with Facebook products or to provide you with more relevant advertising experiences on Facebook.”

Near the fateful date of Saturday, May 15, Germany has blocked the collection of WhatsApp data. “We must prevent the harms and disadvantages associated with such a closed box procedure,” said the Hamburg Privacy Supervisor. For its part, the parent company Facebook has disclosed that the decision is incorrect because it is based on a misunderstanding of interpretation and will not stop the publication and dissemination of the new privacy terms of service.