Date: 26 May 2021
Privacy Commissioner Welcomes WhatsApp’s Acceptance of
Suggestions to Provide Alternatives to Users
The Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong (Privacy Commissioner), Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling, welcomes WhatsApp’s acceptance of suggestions to provide practical alternatives to users who do not agree to the new Terms of Service and Privacy Policy (New Terms and Privacy Policy).
Since January 2021, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong (PCPD), has been communicating with the representatives of the headquarters of WhatsApp to relay users’ concerns on the New Terms and Privacy Policy.
The PCPD has just received WhatsApp’s latest response and noted WhatsApp’s announcement that no one will have their accounts deleted or lose functionality of WhatsApp because of their non-acceptance of the New Terms and Privacy Policy. According to WhatsApp, they will remind users who have not accepted the New Terms and Privacy Policy of the update, but they have no plans to limit the functionality of WhatsApp for those users.
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling, said, “I am pleased to note that WhatsApp adjusts its policies to address users’ concerns.” The Privacy Commissioner encourages WhatsApp to continue with their efforts to provide sufficient information and explanations to users about the New Terms and Privacy Policy.
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