Won't limit functionality, will continue to send reminders for users to accept privacy policy: WhatsApp

WhatsApp on Thursday said it will not limit the functionality of the messaging app for users not agreeing to its new privacy policy but will continue to send reminders about the updateWhatsApp said its recent policy update does not change the privacy of peoples personal messages and it has already written to the government seeking to assure them that the privacy of users remains its highest priorityOn Thursday the Centre has told the Delhi High Court that the messaging platform was trying to force its users to consent to the new privacy policy before the Personal Data Protection PDP Bill becomes the law by bombarding them with notifications daily to obtain their consentAlso Read New WhatsApp tools to help businesses connect with people at easeWe reiterate that we have already responded to the Government of India and assured them that the privacy of users remains our highest priorityrdquo a WhatsApp spokesperson said in an emailed statementA raging debate had ensued earlier this year after WhatsApp said it will update its terms of service and privacy policy around how it processes user data and partners with Facebook to offer integrations across the social media giants productsThe Facebookowned company has insisted that its contentious privacy policy will not limit the functionality of how WhatsApp works in the coming weeksldquoInstead we will continue to remind users from time to time about the update as well as when people choose to use relevant optional features like communicating with a business that is receiving support from Facebookrdquo the spokesperson saidThe spokesperson further noted that the recent update does not change the privacy of peoples personal messages and that its purpose is to provide additional information about how people can interact with businesses if they choose to do soldquoWe hope this approach reinforces the choice that all users have whether or not they want to interact with a business We will maintain this approach until at least the forthcoming PDP law comes into effectrdquo the spokesperson saidTerming WhatsApps bombarding of notifications on its customers as an antiuser practice for obtaining trick consent the central government on Thursday urged the court to direct the messaging platform to desist from pushing notifications onto its existing users with regard to the new privacy policyThe Centres claim has been made in an additional affidavit filed in response to several pleas challenging the new privacy policy of WhatsAppWhatsApp which has 53 crore users in India as per the government data had faced severe backlash over user concerns that data was being shared with parent company FacebookInterestingly the new rules for social media companies have also come into effect from the last month that mandate large platforms like Facebook and Twitter to undertake greater due diligence and make these digital platforms more accountable and responsible for the content hosted by themThe rules also require significant social media intermediaries providing services primarily in the nature of messaging to enable identification of the first originator of the information that undermines the sovereignty of India the security of the state or public order This could have major ramifications for players like Twitter and WhatsAppThe new IT rules require significant social media intermediaries those with other 50 lakh users to appoint a grievance officer nodal officer and a chief compliance officer These personnel are required to be resident in IndiaUnder the new rules social media companies will have to take down flagged content within 36 hours and remove within 24 hours content that is flagged for nudity pornography etc The Centre had said the new rules are designed to prevent abuse and misuse of platforms and offer users a robust forum for grievance redressalNoncompliance with the rules would result in these platforms losing their intermediary status that provides them immunity from liabilities over any thirdparty data hosted by them In other words they could be liable for criminal action in case of complaintsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever