A day after WhatsApp changed its terms of use, reneging on its promise to protect users' privacy - the storm is gathering momentum around the world.
What the new privacy agreement means: WhatsApp will transfer information about you - including your phone number - to Facebook, in order to "offer you more relevant ads and friends that are right for you.".
The company promises that we won't see any advertisements on WhatsApp, but go ahead and believe them.
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According to Nana 10, organizations around the world are protesting and criticizing the move, which effectively nullifies the company's commitment to its users when it was acquired by Facebook not to change its strict privacy terms.
The US-based EPIC organization, a research center focused on protecting public privacy in electronic space, claims that this change constitutes a violation of federal law.
The organization, which is based in Washington, has come out strongly against Facebook and WhatsApp, even to the point of accusing them of fraud.
In a statement issued by the organization, it was stated that Facebook and WhatsApp violated US federal trade laws by acting falsely towards their customers. The organization accuses WhatsApp of lying when it announced in 2014, when it was acquired by Facebook, that the deal would not affect its privacy agreement with its users and that this would remain unchanged.
WhatsApp's privacy agreement stated at the time that the company undertakes to never share or sell user identification, including: phone number, username, information transmitted through it, availability, etc. - which is what the company now wants to share, in accordance with the new privacy agreement.
The organization further claims that the way the company publishes the update is misleading to the consumer, and strongly protests against the ambiguity that Facebook and WhatsApp have now adopted. According to the organization, the option not to share the information should have been presented prominently - and not hidden, as was the case.
There were also harsh reactions in England. An article on the BBC website quoted senior analysts describing this move as nothing less than a "betrayal of users," in light of Facebook's commitment at the time of the acquisition that WhatsApp would remain independent.
So what do we do in the meantime?
Here's what to do when you get the update and what to do if you've accidentally approved it. You have 30 days to object to this change, after which there's likely no going back.
Remember: Even if you decide to ignore the update, you will eventually be forced to take one of the steps listed here within 30 days.
Option 1:
When the new update arrives, don't automatically approve it, but choose the option to read the document. Scroll down the dozens of pages and you'll see the option to check the "V" in the box - which means: "I agree that Facebook will have access to my phone number and the content of my conversations.".
Option 2:
If you have already agreed by mistake, all you need to do to prevent WhatsApp from sharing your information with Facebook is to go to "Settings >> Account" and remove the "v" from the box that says you agree to share your information.
