Facebook presses pause on WhatsApp privacy policy change after backlash

WhatsApp’s planned privacy policy update have resulted in a powerful backlash towards both itself and Facebook over the past week. The new policy, for the unaware, will result in more data than some are comfortable with being shared among WhatsApp, Facebook, and other Facebook-owned companies.

The company has tried to clarify its position and has now been forced to backtrack on this imminent change. Users will now have an additional three months to review and adopt the new terms of service if they so choose. The company will also now try and allay concerns and “clear up misinformation” around its stance on data privacy.

As for the changes being made to its privacy policy. WhatsApp continues to defend them, saying:

With these updates, none of that is changing. Instead, the update includes new options people will have to message a business on WhatsApp, and provides further transparency about how we collect and use data. While not everyone shops with a business on WhatsApp today, we think that more people will choose to do so in the future and it’s important people are aware of these services. This update does not expand our ability to share data with Facebook.

In the meantime, the controversy around the app has driven downloads to rivals like Signal and Telegram, the latter of which has seen its daily active users shoot to 500 million following the backlash.

The right stuff

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro review: The new best

Samsung’s aiming squarely at the AirPods Pro with the new Galaxy Buds Pro, but it’s done something better: it’s made one of the best-sounding wireless earbuds you can buy.