Whatsapp changes its privacy policy.
If you want to continue using the messenger, you have to agree.
Is it now time for an alternative?
The
Messenger
Whatsapp
*
changes the
privacy policy
drastically
.
Those who do not agree can
no longer use
the
chat app
from the beginning of
February
.
Elon Musk
recommends
another
messenger
service for
Whatsapp
users
.
Update from Sunday, January 10th, 2021, 1 p.m.:
It's a huge PR disaster for
: The
messenger service,
which is part of the
universe, gives its users an ultimatum.
If you do not agree to the company's new terms and conditions by February 8, 2021, you can
no longer use
the
chat app
.
Is it time for an alternative?
But what will actually change with the changed conditions for
data processing
?
Very simple: The data of
Whatsapp users
should be made accessible to all companies in the Facebook group.
Experts suspect that the data should be used primarily for advertising purposes.
Whatsapp users will in future be able to
receive
individualized advertising based on their Whatsapp usage behavior on
or
.
This forced service annoys numerous users of the popular chat app.
Many are looking for alternative messengers - but which use them.
For the well-known whistleblower
Edward Snowden
and Tesla boss
Elons Musk
, the matter is clear: "Use the signal!" - Musk tweeted recently.
Whatsapp with compulsory service: is the Messenger Signal an alternative?
Definitely, according to Snowden and Musk.
And chip.de also emphasizes that,
unlike other
messengers
,
Signal
attaches
great importance to the
privacy
of users.
Accordingly, in addition to the actual content of the conversation, the sender is also encrypted.
The
app
replaces loud chip.de the sender's name through a temporary certificate that will be decrypted only by the recipient.
This means that the conversation partners can hardly be identified.
But you have to when changing from
to the measuring signal Negro compromising.
No, says chip.de very clearly:
Group chats,
self destructive messages,
(encrypted) video calls for up to five people,
sharing documents and pictures or
even chatting directly on the desktop: all of this also works with Signal, writes chip.de.
Update from Friday, January 8th, 2021, 2 p.m.:
The new
terms and conditions are
causing
displeasure among many users of the
messenger
service.
As part of the new terms and conditions, users must agree by February 8th, 2021 that Whatsapp
may share
more data with the parent company
.
“Time for alternatives,” writes a Twitter user.
Tesla boss
Elon Musk
apparently sees it similarly
.
+
Anyone who does not agree to the new WhatsApp update will be kicked out of the messenger service.
(Symbol photo)
© Xose Bouzas / Imago Images
Messenger services like
Signal
and
Telegram
are better alternatives if you
do not agree
with the new
service
, tweeted Mike Butcher, editor for the technology news portal TechCrunch.
Whatsapp shares personal information such as IP address, phone numbers and contacts without the possibility of
not agreeing to
the new
terms and conditions
.
Elon Musk
also apparently recommends
switching to the
Signal
messenger service
.
He tweeted: "Use signal".
Many users seem to follow this advice and
switch
from
to other messenger services.
The
Signal
app
experienced such a huge rush that it delayed sending the verification codes.
"We're working on fixing that as soon as possible," tweeted
Signal
.
WhatsApp will share its users' personal information, including phone numbers, IP addresses, contacts, & more with Facebook from Feb. 8, according to the new T & Cs.
No opt-out.
The only way to object is to leave the service & move to a service like Signal or Telegram.
https://t.co/FbGcq5T3JB
- Mike Butcher (@mikebutcher) January 6, 2021
Experts raise serious allegations - Whatsapp expresses itself
Update from Friday, January 8th, 2021, 6.45 a.m.:
On Thursday (January 7th, 2021) Whatsapp
renewed
its
data protection
guidelines
.
Users of the messenger service must agree to this by February 8, 2021.
Among other things, it is about how Whatsapp shares data with other Facebook companies such as Instagram.
There was a suspicion in the media that
could use this data for advertising purposes.
Now the company has reported on the allegations.
There are "no changes to the data transfer practices of
in the European region (including the UK) resulting from the updated terms of use and the privacy policy," a Whatsapp company spokesman told Spiegel.
"To avoid doubts: It is still the case that
does not
share
Whatsapp user data from the European region with
, so that Facebook can use this data to improve its products or advertisements," the spokesman continued.
This statement is in line with a tweet by Whatsapp manager Niamh Sweeney.
3/5 There are no changes to WhatsApp's data-sharing practices in Europe arising from this update.
It remains the case that WhatsApp does not share European Region WhatsApp user data with Facebook for the purpose of Facebook using this data to improve its products or ads.
- Niamh Sweeney (@NiamhSweeneyNYC) January 7, 2021
Whatsapp introduces new compulsory service
Update from Thursday, January 7th, 2021, 10:28 am:
From today, Thursday (January 7th, 2021), the time has come: The new data protection guidelines of
are here.
The messenger service has been sending the new data protection guidelines to its users since today.
If you want
to continue using
, you have to agree to it by February 8th, 2021.
In addition to the data protection guidelines, the general terms of use have also been renewed.
These must also be approved.
Update on data protection: WhatsApp and Facebook data are further interlinked
In essence, the changes turn into the
-Datenschutzrichtlinien, respectively, the terms and conditions for the exchange and processing of data within the
reported -Unternehmensgruppe as Macerkopf.de.
The data protection declaration specifically states:
As part of the Facebook companies, WhatsApp receives information from the Facebook companies and also shares information with them.
We can use the information we receive from you and you can use the information we share with you to operate, provide, improve, understand, individualize, support and market our services or their offers, including products from Facebook companies.
Excerpt from the amended data protection guidelines of WhatsApp
users will see the
new provisions
when opening the app
displayed.
According to Whatsapp, the data exchange should
ensure
better
service
.
However, the new service could also promote monetization within the
group, according to macerkopf.de.
The specification of the
data
that the Facebook group collects about its users could be responsible for this.
Whatsapp with compulsory service: Those who do not agree are thrown out of the messenger
First report from Wednesday, December 9th, 2020:
Kassel - For
Christmas
there is
still a present
from
in the form of an
update
.
But not every user should like this.
While some changes are nice for users, a new service might put many users off.
But the good news first.
developer |
Whatsapp Inc./Facebook Inc. |
Publishing year |
2009 |
category |
Instant messaging |
German speaking |
Yes |
In the past,
several new features introduced * - including in recent days: In the current update, several new were
wallpapers
for the
chats
provided.
Hearts for the sister, the pet for the father - background images can be individually
adapted
with your own photos in the
messenger app
in individual chats.
Similar to the competitor
Snap Chat
,
has recently added the option of
expiring
messages
.
These are messages that, in the case of Whatsapp, are
automatically
deleted
from the conversation
after seven days
.
Whatsapp update for Christmas: Messenger wants to get in touch with users
In addition, a
function has been
introduced that makes it easier for users to
delete
multiple chats and pictures in one
go in order
to gain
more
storage space
.
The company announced both on the Internet platform
.
But also the possibility of a
chat
not just temporarily, but always
silent
to
turn
, is
new
.
But that was not all: In the future, the
messenger service Whatsapp
itself
plans
to send
messages
to its users in order to be in
contact
with them.
In this way Whatsapp wants to
expand
its
reach
.
If the company, headquartered in Dublin (Ireland), has previously announced
innovations
via its blog, the video platform
YouTube
or on social networks such as
, the Irish now want to break new ground.
Because often go
changes
and new
features
to the
users
over.
Update: Whatsapp messages from the messenger itself reach every user
That should change now, as reported by merkur.de, among other things, Whatsapp is planning a brutal change *: So
In the
future
,
innovations
in
Whatsapp should
be
communicated to
users
directly in the app
, according to the plan.
WABetaInfo
also suspects that
there
will be an area
in the
news app in the
future in which
changes
are displayed for users
.
This
addition
in WhatsApp is intended to prevent technology laypeople from finding out about innovations from the media.
IT experts consider this innovation to be very useful in order
to close
the
information leak
.
Still, there is a
catch
.
In order for
Whatsapp to be
in direct
contact
with its
users
, they must actively
agree to
the new
terms of use
in the
app
.
This is for information
WABetaInfo
but only until
08/02/2021
possible.
Anyone who
does not agree to
the new
conditions
by the
expiry date
should
no longer be able to use the Whatsapp
messenger service in the
future.
Starting today, WhatsApp can send in-app announcements to their users.
Who knows what they are going to announce!
😁
Note: I don't mean advertisements, I mean probably announcements about features, changes, news, information and similar.
- WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) December 2, 2020
Big step with the messenger service: users have to agree to WhatsApp update
A drastic step the Irish-headquartered company is taking.
So far,
users have
agreed to
the
terms of use
once after downloading and setting up the
app
and
passively
gave all subsequent
innovations
their okay by continuing to use them.
But this time everything is different: The
change
to more
transparency
and more accessible information is so great that the
active consent
of WhatsApp
users
is required.
With the disadvantage that users who do not act in time could lose access to the app.
WhatsApp now has a new feature that deletes messages after seven days.
You can find out what users need to know here.
The EU wants to bypass encryption in messaging services such as Whatsapp and Signal through a back door.
Privacy advocates are alarmed.
(Theresa Lippe, Lucas Maier, Sarah Neumeyer, Diana Rissmann)
* hna.de and merkur.de are part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editorial network.
List of rubric lists: © Xose Bouzas / Imago Images