"WhatsApp says new policy won\u2019t affect private communication"

" \n After coming under intense scrutiny from users across the world, WhatsApp on Tuesday issued a clarification regarding its\u00a0new terms and conditions\u00a0with the service saying that the new policy will not affect user\u2019s private communication with \u201cfriends or family\u201d. \n \n\n \n \u201cToday we\u2019re answering some common questions we\u2019ve received regarding WhatsApp,\u201d announced Head of WhatsApp at Facebook, Will Cathcart on Twitter. He shared a link to WhatsApp page on their website answering those questions as well. \n \n\n \n The head of the service clarified that the new policy gives clarity to users\u00a0regarding \u201cbusiness communication\u201d and brings \u201ctransparency\u201d. \n \n\n \n \u201cIt does not impact how people communicate privately with friends or family,\u201d said Cathcart. \n \n\n \n WhatsApp vows not to weaken end-to-end encryption \n \n\n \n Separately, WhatsApp said that whatever users share with their friends, family, and co-workers on WhatsApp stays between them. \n \n\n \n \u201cWe can\u2019t see your private messages or hear your calls, and neither can Facebook,\u201d said WhatsApp \n \n\n \n The Facebook owned company vowed that it will \u201cnever weaken\u201d end-to-end encryption. It added that it \u201cclearly labels each chat\u201d so people can know their \u201ccommitment\u201d. \n \n\n \n No logs \n \n\n \n The messaging service also clarified that it does not keep \u201clogs\u201d of the messages and calls of users. \n \n\n \n The company said that traditional mobile carriers store this information but they do not do so as it would be a \u201cprivacy and security risk\u201d if they keep the record of two billion users. \n \n\n \n WhatsApp also clarified that it cannot see their users location and neither can its parent company Facebook. \n \n\n \n \u201cWhen you share your location with someone on WhatsApp, your location is protected by end-to-end encryption, which means no one can see your location except the people you share it with,\u201d clarified the company. \n \n\n \n On the same subject regarding Facebook, the company also assured users that it does not share their contacts with Facebook. It stated that the phone numbers are taken from a user\u2019s address book to \u201cmake messaging fast and reliable\u201d. \n \n\n \n Groups remain private \n \n\n \n The Facebook-owned company which has been under fire for accessing group chats said that those chats remain private. \n \n\n \n The company said that they \u201cuse group membership to deliver messages\u201d and to protect the service from \u201cspam and abuse\u201d. \n \n\n \n \u201cWe don\u2019t share this data with Facebook for ads purposes. Again, these private chats are end-to-end encrypted so we can\u2019t see their content,\u201d said WhatsApp. \n \n\n \n The company told users that they can set their messages to disappear \u201cfor additional privacy\u201d. \n \n\n \n The company also stated that users can also download their data and see what information the company has of their account. \n \n\n \n How rules affect WhatsApp for business \n \n\n \n The company said that millions of users rely on WhatsApp to \u201ccommunicate securely with businesses of all sizes\u201d, adding that it wants to make it easier and better for users to message with businesses. \n \n\n \n The company added that it was providing Facebook hosting services as some large businesses \u201cneed\u201d to use the option to \u201cmanage their communication\u201d. \n \n\n \n But it again clarified that WhatsApp cannot see what a user is saying or that Facebook may \u201cuse that information for its own marketing purposes\u201d. \n \n\n \n \u201cTo make sure you\u2019re informed, we clearly label conversations with businesses that are choosing to use hosting services from Facebook,\u201d said the company. \n \n\n \n \u201cFacebook branded commerce features like Shops, some businesses will display their goods right within WhatsApp so people can see what\u2019s available to buy,\u201d clarified the statement. \n \n\n \n It added that if this option is utlised then it will be used to \u201cpersonalise\u201d a shopping experience. \n \n\n \n The company also stated that users that may see an ad on Facebook with a button to message a business using WhatsApp. \n \n\n \n \u201cFacebook may use the way you interact with these ads to personalize the ads you see on Facebook,\u201d said the company. \n \n\n \n WhatsApp under fire \n \n\n \n Earlier this year the company announced a change in its terms and conditions after which it came under fire. \n \n\n \n The change in policy has sent shockwaves among the users who have questioned the logic behind data sharing with Facebook and are encouraging others to install Signal and Telegram apps which have seen a sudden increase in demand. \n "

"WhatsApp says new policy won\u2019t affect private communication"

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