Skip to main content

What’ll happen to your WhatsApp account if you don’t agree to new privacy policy

WhatsApp recently announced it would be changing its privacy policy, in a move that has many users worried about how much of their data will be shared with WhatsApp’s parent company, Facebook. Now, the service has revealed what will happen to the accounts of users who don’t agree to the new policy by the May 15 deadline.

TechCrunch contacted WhatsApp for more details on what would happen to users’ accounts if they didn’t agree to the new privacy policy. It reports that WhatsApp will “slowly ask” its users to agree to the new privacy changes, warning that they need to do so to continue having full access to the app’s features. Users who decline to accept the new policy will be able to continue using the app for a few weeks, but only in a limited way. “For a short time, these users will be able to receive calls and notifications, but will not be able to read or send messages from the app,” the company told TechCrunch.

Recommended Videos

The new privacy policy enables more sharing of data between WhatsApp and Facebook. There has been confusion about exactly what data will be shared, however. WhatsApp insists that messages sent on the platform by private users will remain end-to-end encrypted, meaning they will still be private. But messages sent to and from business users of WhatApp may be shared. The app can also collect data on individual users’ phone contacts, location, device, and IP address.

The changes to WhatsApp’s privacy policy have been controversial, with many users unhappy about the privacy implications. The detractors include the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, Elon Musk, who has been a prominent critic of Facebook and last month encouraged his 42 million Twitter followers to use encrypted messaging app Signal instead of WhatsApp.

The new policy will come into effect on May 15 this year. If you’re a WhatsApp user and you don’t want to agree to the changes, you may wish to look into alternative messaging apps for Android or iOS.

Georgina Torbet
Georgina has been the space writer at Digital Trends space writer for six years, covering human space exploration, planetary…
WhatsApp Buisness is beta testing a new shortcut for quick replies
Close up of WhatsApp icon as seen on a smartphone display. Credits: WhatsApp official.

WhatsApp has released several new updates to enhance the platform’s engagement rate. Now, the company has enabled a new shortcut for quick replies on the beta versions of both Android and iOS , though some users who have installed the latest update may still not see this option. This is because the option has been rolled out only to select beta testers, and others may need to wait for further updates to see this option enabled.
"Quick replies" was one of the earliest features introduced to the WhatsApp Business platform. It allows for reusing frequent messages via keyboard shortcuts, a little similar to how the G-board memory works when typing out similar messages or emails. To use quick replies, a user needs to type out "/" as suggested by "WABetaInfo", and then select the message to send from the list.
WhatsApp's several major updates in 2021 have made it the market leader in messenger downloads. NurPhoto/Getty Images
The reasons for adding this shortcut are currently unknown, but the real benefits will be experienced once the update is available to a wider audience. At the moment, the new shortcut option has been added to the chat share action menu that can be seen by both Android and iOS device users.
What's next?
Meanwhile, WhatsApp has plans for several updates for 2022, including an option for hiding the "last seen" view for specific contacts. The social media giant's basic messenger and business versions are currently at the number 2 and number 5 positions, respectively, in the "free communication apps" section in the Google Play Store, compared to Telegram, which is at number 3. However, the combination of 5.5 billion downloads from WhatsApp apps on Android makes it the clear market leader. 

Read more
Upcoming WhatsApp groups feature could be a potential lifesaver
A person using WhatsApp Messenger on his Android smartphone.

Over the years, WhatsApp has added several features that help WhatsApp group administrators moderate their groups better. Some of these include restricting the ability of nonmembers to send messages to the group and banning unruly members. Now, it seems the Facebook-owned messaging client is working on another feature that has been on the wish list of several group admins.

According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is likely to give group admins the power to delete messages sent by other group members. To understand why this is such a big deal, it is important to know WhatsApp's current restrictions with respect to group messages.

Read more
WhatsApp launches crypto-powered mobile payments in the U.S.
WhatsApp Messenger on an iPhone.

WhatsApp has launched a digital payments pilot in the U.S., allowing a limited number of people to send and receive money with the same ease they would a regular message. This payment feature is powered by the Meta-owned Novi digital wallet service, which uses Pax Dollars (USDP) to facilitate transfers, and they all go through instantly.

Meta launched Novi back in 2020, saying, "With Novi, sending money will be as easy as sending a message. You’ll be able to use Novi as a stand-alone app, as well as in Messenger and WhatsApp. There will be no hidden charges to add, send, receive or withdraw money, and your transfers will arrive instantly. All Novi customers will be verified using government-issued ID, and fraud protections will be built in throughout the app."

Read more