WhatsApp head Will Cathcart clarified issued several tweets on Sunday, in an attempt to clear the air regarding the debate going on for the past week on the messaging app’s newly issued privacy policy….
He said WhatsApp wanted to keep its users’ data safe and was promoting its new policy of end-to-end encryption. He said with this new encryption, no one, not even WhatsApp or Facebook could listen in to the users’ calls or messages. He said the company valued its users’ security and would continue to make policies that could help its users protect their privacy.
I’ve been watching a bunch of discussion this week about the privacy policy update we’re in the process of making @WhatsApp and wanted to share some thoughts.
Thread 👇
— Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) January 8, 2021
He made it clear that the new policy did not change how WhatsApp shared its consumers’ details with Facebook.
I’ve been watching a bunch of discussion this week about the privacy policy update we’re in the process of making @WhatsApp and wanted to share some thoughts.
Thread 👇
— Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) January 8, 2021
Cathcart said his company issued the new policy for businesses and how people used the app to communicate with businesses.
It’s important for us to be clear this update describes business communication and does not change WhatsApp’s data sharing practices with Facebook. It does not impact how people communicate privately with friends or family wherever they are in the world.
— Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) January 8, 2021
Not everyone may realize how common it is to WhatsApp message businesses in many countries. In fact, about 175 million people message a business account each day on WhatsApp and more want to do so.
— Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) January 8, 2021
The head of the messaging app said the policy was meant to keep them ahead of their competition. He said his company valued their clients’ despite opposition. He added that WhatsApp would continue to provide secure communication to its clients.
We’re in a competition on privacy with others and that’s very good for the world. People should have choices in how they communicate and feel confident that no one else can see their chats. There are people who disagree with this, including some governments.
— Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) January 8, 2021
What’s worth noticing is that he did not speak about how or what data WhatsApp was sharing with Facebook or third party companies. He also did not mention rising public concern about their personal data being sold by Facebook and its companies to ad networks.
[…] WhatsApp chief ‘clears the air’ on new privacy policy […]