WhatsApp tries to reassure its users about data privacy
On January 7, 2021, the WhatsApp instant messaging application set new terms of use that scared some of its users.
AFP - INDRANIL MUKHERJEE
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
WhatsApp tried this Tuesday, January 12, to reassure its users, worried about the messaging service not sharing more data with its parent company Facebook.
The new rules released last week sparked panic and registration records among its competitors Signal and Telegram.
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"
With all the rumors going around, we want to answer some of the most common questions we have received
," writes WhatsApp on its website, under the heading "security and privacy."
We want to make it clear that the update does not affect the privacy of messages exchanged with your friends and family in any way.
"
On January 7, WhatsApp asked its some two billion users to agree to new terms of use, allowing it to share more data with its parent company Facebook, under penalty of no longer accessing their account at from February 8.
The changes only concern possible conversations with companies, assures WhatsApp, which wanted "to
be more transparent about how we collect and use data
".
The Californian group derives its immense profits from targeted advertising on Facebook and Instagram.
It has now set out to generate revenue from its messengers, such as Messenger, by allowing advertisers to contact their customers, or even sell their products directly there, as is already the case in India, its largest market with some 400 million users.
WhatsApp has sought to reassure worried users in this South Asian country, by publishing a full-page message in Wednesday's newspapers which notably states: "
Respect for your privacy is encrypted in our DNA
."
►
To read also: American justice wants to force Facebook to sell Instagram and WhatsApp
Telegram jubile
Acquired by Facebook in 2014, WhatsApp has built much of its reputation on data protection.
Hence the outcry on the networks, caused by the recent update.
Like the iconic Tesla boss Elon Musk who tweeted: "Use Signal".
Use Signal
- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 7, 2021
"
There is a lot of misinformation on the terms of use of WhatsApp at the moment
", reacted Tuesday Adam Mosseri, the boss of Instagram.
But the catch-up operation comes a little late: the Signal and
Telegram
secure messengers
have been a hit since last Thursday.
"
During the first week of January, Telegram exceeded 500 million monthly active users,
" Russian founder Pavel Durov said on Tuesday on his Telegram channel.
Then the numbers continued to grow: 25 million new users joined Telegram in the last 72 hours.
People no longer want to trade their privacy for free services.
They no longer want to be held hostage by technology monopolies.
"
Founded in 2013 by brothers Pavel and Nikolai Durov, former creators of the very popular Russian social network VKontakte, Telegram claims to make security its priority and generally refuses to collaborate with the authorities, which has earned it
blocking attempts in some countries , especially in Russia
.
Signal takes off
Signal and Telegram are leading downloads of free apps on Apple Store and Google Play platforms in several countries.
To better win over its new users, Signal even published a tutorial to help them easily import their group conversations from another messaging app.
Launched in 2014, the American application is considered by specialists as one of the most secure messaging applications on the market, thanks in particular to its ability to encrypt “
end-to-end
” messages or audio and video calls.
►
To read also: The new rules of WhatsApp favor the competing application Signal
(With
AFP)
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