Hong Kong privacy watchdog urges WhatsApp to pump brakes on policy changes, offer alternatives for users


WhatsApp has informed its more than two billion users that they will need to agree to a new policy allowing it to share data with its parent company, Facebook. The move has prompted concerns about how the data might be used, but WhatsApp maintains the information collected will not include the content of messages. — SCMP

Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog on Jan 11 urged WhatsApp to delay a Feb 8 deadline for users to agree to controversial new terms – namely having their personal data shared with its parent company Facebook – or face being blocked from key features on the messaging service.

Defending its privacy policy, WhatsApp has insisted “no additional data” other than what it already collects will be shared with Facebook under the change. But many of the city’s users have nonetheless switched, or are considering switching, to other alternatives such as Telegram and Signal.

Subscribe or renew your subscriptions to win prizes worth up to RM68,000!

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Tech News

'World of Warcraft' still going strong as it celebrates 20 years
Northvolt CEO steps down after company files for bankruptcy
Bitcoin at record highs, sets sights on $100,000
Ukraine urges gamers not to enter Chernobyl exclusion zone
Kioxia's market value set at $4.9 billion in IPO
Apple readies more conversational Siri in bid to catch up in AI
China’s richest man berates PDD, ByteDance for months of misery
WhatsApp rolling out transcription for voice messages in multiple languages
The sky's the limit for Bluesky
Two decades of Nintendo's top-selling DS console

Others Also Read