WHATSAPP’S PLANS to share user information — including phone numbers, contact lists, and usage data — with parent company Facebook threaten users’ privacy and control over their data.
Existing WhatsApp users have until Sept. 25 to click through this update and agree or not agree to Facebook using their WhatsApp data to suggest friends and serve ads.
Unfortunately, WhatsApp’s UI does not offer clear information about what the new privacy policy will change, and buries mechanisms for opting out.
But don’t worry and see below for steps posted by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) to change your account settings and keep your WhatsApp data on the app.
When you open WhatsApp on your phone, you will see this update screen. Click “Read more…” on the bottom.
This takes you to more information about the new privacy policy. At the bottom of the screen, uncheck the box for “Share my WhatsApp information with Facebook…”
Once you uncheck the box, you will see this pop-up box confirming that your account information won’t be used on Facebook.
Now that your screen looks like this, click “Agree.” This will direct you back to your normal WhatsApp homepage.
If you already agreed to the new privacy policy and would like to undo it, you have 30 additional days after you clicked “Agree” to change your settings to “Don’t share” once and for all.
Use the three dots in the upper right of your screen to navigate to “Settings” and click “Account.”
Toggle “Share my account info” to the left. A grey pop-up box will ask if you are sure you don’t want WhatsApp to share your data with Facebook. Tap “Don’t share.”
Your screen should look like this, with “Share my account info” greyed out. You can click the arrow in the top left to get back to your settings and then to your normal WhatsApp homepage.
Note that your WhatsApp information will still be passed to Facebook for other purposes such as “improving infrastructure and delivery systems, understanding how [Facebook and WhatsApp] services...are used, securing systems, and fighting spam, abuse, or infringement activities.” Changing your settings does ensure, however, that Facebook will not use your WhatsApp data to suggest friends or serve ads.
Row over WhatsApp privacy policy
Row over WhatsApp privacy policy
Apple to update EU browser options, make more apps deletable
- iPhone maker came under pressure from regulators to make changes after the EU’s sweeping Digital Markets Act took effect on March 7
- Apple users will be able to select a default browser directly from the choice screen after going through a mandatory list of options
STOCKHOLM: Apple will change how users choose browser options in the European Union, add a dedicated section for changing default apps, and make more apps deletable, the company said on Thursday.
The iPhone maker came under pressure from regulators to make changes after the EU’s sweeping Digital Markets Act took effect on March 7, forcing big tech companies to offer mobile users the ability to select from a list of available web browsers on a “choice screen.”
The new rules require mobile software makers to show the choice screen where users can select a browser, search engine and virtual assistant as they set up their phones, which earlier came with preferred options from Apple and Google.
In an update later this year, Apple users will be able to select a default browser directly from the choice screen after going through a mandatory list of options.
A randomly ordered list of 12 browsers per EU country will be shown to the user with short descriptions, and the chosen one will be automatically downloaded, Apple said. The choice screen will also be available on iPads through an update later this year.
Apple released a previous update in response to the new rules in March, but browser companies criticized the design of its choice screen, and the Commission opened an investigation on March 25 saying it suspected that the measures fell short of effective compliance.
The company said it has been in dialogue with the European Commission and believes the new changes will address regulators’ concerns.
It also plans to introduce a dedicated area for default apps where a user will be able to set defaults for messaging, phone calls, spam filters, password managers and keyboards.
Users will also be able to delete certain Apple-made apps such as App Store, Messages, Camera, Photos and Safari. Only Settings and Phone apps would not be deletable.
