A hot potato: WhatsApp has reversed its conclusion to delete the accounts of users who refuse to sign its new privacy policy. However, those who are adamant that they won't share their information with Facebook volition be bombarded with reminders and eventually take their accounts severely restricted.

WhatsApp announced a controversial new privacy policy for non-EU users in Jan that allows their business relationship data to be shared with the messaging app'south owner, Facebook. The service has shared some information, such equally phone numbers, with its parent since 2022, but there were fears that the new policy would allow Facebook to access private WhatsApp conversations.

While individual conversations remain encrypted, messages sent to and from businesses may be shared, and Facebook tin use the data for targeted advertizing.

"We may use the information nosotros receive from them, and they may apply the information we share with them, to assistance operate, provide, improve, sympathise, customize, support, and market our Services and their offerings, including the Facebook Company Products," states the policy.

The public outcry saw WhatsApp delay the signing deadline from February 8 to May 15. It warned that those who turn down to sign would eventually have their accounts deleted.

WhatsApp has now eased that penalty. "No ane will have their accounts deleted or lose functionality," it writes, though accounts will see their features restricted.

Anyone who doesn't sign the policy volition proceed receiving reminders to practice so. Eventually, these will become persistent, at which point users volition start losing functions.

"You won't be able to access your chat listing, but you tin still answer incoming phone and video calls. If you lot have notifications enabled, you can tap on them to read or reply to a message or retrieve a missed phone or video call," explains WhatsApp.

"After a few weeks of limited functionality, you lot won't be able to receive incoming calls or notifications and WhatsApp will finish sending letters and calls to your phone."

It'due south possible to export your WhatsApp chat history to other messaging services that support the feature, such every bit Telegram. The company reminded users that inactive accounts are automatically deleted afterward 120 days.