WhatsApp loses millions of users

According to the new changes, the way businesses communicate would get transformed. Further WhatsApp claimed that the users would not be allowed to disagree with new terms and conditions. If any user wants to opt out, will lose access to their accounts.

It is important to mention, there is a separate privacy policy for WhatsApp users in Europe and the UK.  Following the news, many users have swapped to rival messaging apps, including Viber, Telegram and Signal.

Figures shared by the UK parliament's home affairs committee on 'online harms' show that Signal gained 7.5 million users in the first three weeks of the year, while Telegram gained a whopping 25 million.

Earlier, WhatsApp offered a one-time opt-out for data sharing in 2016, but now users are being forced to agree to the privacy policy to continue using the app. Following the backlash over the latest update ruled out on WhatsApp first warned users to the new privacy policy changes in a notification earlier this month. WhatsApp has made the decision to push back the date of the privacy policy change.

Essentially, the new policy means Facebook will be able to access account information including phone number, information on how a user interacts with other users, and logs of how often and how long you use WhatsApp. Other data that could be shared with Facebook includes IP address, browser details, language and time zone.