Instant messaging platform WhatsApp has updated its terms and privacy policy and notified the users on Tuesday and Wednesday. The notification that popped up on the application included key updates like information about WhatsApp's service and how it processes user data.

According to the new update which is set to take effect from February 8, 2021, users have to accept the updates, else their accounts will be deleted. “A user will need to accept these updates to continue using WhatsApp,” the platform said.

The new privacy policy of WhatsApp, which was updated on January 4, stated that it is “must” receive and collect some information to “operate, provide, improve, understand, customize, support, and market our services, including when you install, access, or use our services.”

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WhatsApp has reiterated that all messages are encrypted end-to-end, which means that neither WhatsApp nor a third party can read them.

“While some information is compulsorily required without which WhatsApp said it cannot provide services to a user, other information it collects depends on how a user uses the app,” it said.

The compulsory information includes a mobile phone number and basic information (including a profile name of your choice) to create a WhatsApp account.

“If you don’t provide us with this information, you will not be able to create an account to use our services. You can add other information to your account, such as a profile picture and "about" information,” WhatsApp said.

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WhatsApp Doesn’t Save Messages

According to the messaging platform, it doesn’t retain the user’s messages. These messages are stored on the user’s device and not on WhatsApp’s servers. Once messages are delivered, they are deleted from their servers.

However, WhatsApp’s servers store undelivered messages in encrypted form for up to 30 days and if a message is still undelivered after 30 days, WhatsApp claims to delete it.

“When a user forwards media within a message, we store that media temporarily in encrypted form on our servers to aid in the more efficient delivery of additional forwards,” WhatsApp adds.

Information collected automatically by WhatsApp

Information that the application collects includes activities such as how the user uses WhatsApp, personal settings, how the user interacts with others, the time, frequency, and duration of activities.

The information also includes when a user registered on WhatsApp, the features they use such as messaging, calling, etc, profile photo, "about" information, among others.

WhatsApp also collects information on what device one uses, mobile network, IP address, among others. It also collects and uses precise location information from the device, but with the user’s permission.

Information about your contacts

Depending upon the law, users can provide WhatsApp with the phone numbers in their address book regularly using a ‘contact upload’ feature.

“If any of your contacts aren’t yet using our services, we’ll manage this information for you in a way that ensures those contacts cannot be identified by us,” WhatsApp said.

Transactions and Payments Data

WhatsApp has said that if the user uses WhatsApp Pay, the company processes additional information, including payment account and transaction information.

“Payment account and transaction information include information needed to complete the transaction (for example, information about your payment method, shipping details, and transaction amount). If you use our payments services available in your country or territory, our privacy practices are described in the applicable payments privacy policy,” it adds.