Srinagar: As WhatsApp, a popular American cross-platform messaging and Voice-over IP (VoIP) service announced ‘modification’ in its privacy policy, users in thousands have switched over to other messaging apps to ensure their ‘privacy’ is not violated.
Outraged by WhatsApps ‘updated’ privacy policy, thousands of users in Kashmir, including some politicians, academicians, journalists, medicos and bureaucrats have switched over to what they believe are “secure” messaging apps like Signal and Telegram.
Users allege that social media giant Facebook as per updated privacy policy will now be able to see messages they exchange or hear their calls on WhatsApp.
WhatsApp announced a new privacy policy suggesting further data sharing with its parent company and users have to accept terms of updated policy by February 08, 2021, or delete their accounts.
“I delete #WhatsApp, switched to #Signal. #Privacy is more important than anything else” Noman, a neteizen tweeted after receiving a pop-up update on his handset.
Users in Kashmir either delete WhatsApp or limit its use even as the company said it does not read or share personal chat messages with parent company Facebook.
“We want to be clear that the policy update does not affect the privacy of your messages with friends or family in any way. Instead, this update includes changes related to messaging a business on WhatsApp, which is optional, and provides further transparency about how we collect and use data,” the company said in an FAQ released on Tuesday.
Many journalists at Srinagar’s Press Enclave said that they discontinued using WhatsApp fearing ‘infringement’ of their privacy after the company announced a change in privacy policy.
“I discontinued WhatsApp and switched to telegram like many of my colleagues did. It was really a useful messaging app we used for years, but its updated privacy policy violates users’ privacy which is not done,” said Haya Javaid, a journalist.
