WhatsApp Says it Won't Limit Functionality, Changes it's Stance

WhatsApp stated on Monday that it would not limit the operation of the service for anyone in the coming weeks, and that it would continue this attitude "at least" until India's personal data protection (PDP) law took effect.

WhatsApp's declaration comes just a few weeks after the company revealed that users who had not yet agreed to the revised privacy terms would have their functionality curtailed over time. Such users will be denied access to chat lists, incoming voice and video calls, and their accounts will eventually be cancelled, according to WhatsApp.

On May 7, however, the firm announced that the May 15 deadline for users to approve its privacy policy had been removed for the time being, and that it would "follow up" with those who had not yet approved the revised terms of service.

In a statement released on Monday, a Facebook spokesman stated that the firm would "continue to remind users from time to time about the update" as well as other relevant optional features such as when engaging with a Facebook-supported business. The corporation also stated that it has responded to the government's letter dated May 18.

Last week, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) wrote to WhatsApp, threatening it with "legal action" if it did not respond to a new notice on rolling back privacy updates by May 25.

The Ministry stated in the message that "changes to the privacy policy and the manner of introducing these changes, including in FAQ (frequently asked questions)" undermined "the sacrosanct values of informational privacy, data security and user choice for Indian users". 

Last week's letter was the second time the IT ministry has written to WhatsApp, requesting that the controversial privacy policy be removed. The ministry had addressed a letter to Will Cathcart, the instant messaging platform's worldwide Chief Executive Officer, in January, requesting that the newest privacy and policy modification be retracted.

The privacy change allowed WhatsApp and other Facebook firms "to make invasive and precise inferences about users," according to a letter from the IT ministry at the time.

In January, WhatsApp sent out an in-app message informing users that the privacy policy had been amended and that if they did not accept the new terms by February 8, they would lose access to their accounts.

Users and privacy activists were outraged by the ultimatum, claiming that the new policy was intrusive and would lead to personal data being hacked. In response to these concerns, WhatsApp emphasised that the modifications were necessary to assist businesses through WhatsApp Business, which the firm created in 2018 to enable enterprises communicate with clients.

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