The international messaging app, WhatsApp, rolled out new privacy updates at the beginning of the year, in a move that has raised concern over privacy.
Users have been able to access information on how data is affected when they interact with a business on the platform. The messaging service has also provided more details on its integration with its parent company, Facebook.
In response to the concerns, a WhatsApp Spokesperson said, “As we announced in October, WhatsApp wants to make it easier for people to both make a purchase and get help from a business directly on WhatsApp.”
Whilst the Spokesperson stressed that most people use WhatsApp to chat with friends and family, increasingly people are reaching out to businesses as well.
“To further increase transparency, we updated the privacy policy to describe that going forward businesses can choose to receive secure hosting services from our parent company, Facebook, to help manage their communications with their customers on WhatsApp,” the Spokesperson said, “It, of course, remains up to the user whether or not they want to message with a business on WhatsApp.”
The update does not change WhatsApp’s data sharing practices with Facebook, and does not impact how people communicate privately with friends or family wherever they are in the world.
The messaging app remains deeply committed to protecting people’s privacy, the Spokesperson added.
They noted that the company is communicating directly with users, through WhatsApp, about these changes so they have time to review the new policy over the course of the next month.
