WhatsApp scraps May 15 deadline for accepting privacy policy terms

WhatsApp had faced severe backlash over user concerns that data was being shared with parent company Facebook.

WhatsApp has scrapped its May 15 deadline for users to accept its controversial privacy policy update and said not accepting the terms will not lead to deletion of accounts. File

Instant messaging application WhatsApp has said it will not delete accounts of users who are yet to accept its controversial privacy polic y update on the May 15 deadline

Following severe backlash over the latest update to its privacy policy, the Facebook-owned firm had in January announced pushing back of the policy rollout by three months to May 15 as against the February 8 deadline earlier.

“No accounts will be deleted on May 15 because of this update and no one in India will lose functionality of WhatsApp either. We will follow up with reminders to people over the next several weeks,” a WhatsApp spokesperson said in an emailed response.

The company has not given any new date for implementation of the policy as of now.

The spokesperson added that the company has spent the last few months working to clear confusion and misinformation. “While the majority of users who have received the new terms of service have accepted them, we appreciate some people haven’t had the chance to do so yet,” the spokesperson said.