WhatsApp’s new privacy policy: data privacy infringement?

 WhatsApp’s new privacy policy: data privacy infringement?

By Joseph Ayinde

 

WhatsApp recently introduced a new privacy policy, and users of the application are left uncertain as to whether or not this new policy infringes on their data privacy, the big question is, is your personal data safe on WhatsApp when you accept this new policy?

There is no doubt that people value their personal data or information, and will prefer that their data is secured from third party use that they haven’t consented to. However users that have accepted this new data policy might have already given access for Facebook and other third parties to use their data.

This is because the new policy takes away the choice of the users not to share their data with other apps owned by Facebook, and third party apps. Failure of users to accept this policy means that they have to quit using WhatsApp by February 8th when the policy is to fully come into effect.

From the look of the brief analysis made above, it appears that undoubtedly there will be an infringement on data privacy of users, this is because the sharing of the data with third party apps to run their businesses is not connected to the purpose for which users are using the app, which mostly entails communicating with friends and families.

Experts have stated that this new policy will enable WhatsApp share one’s metadata with third party, for perspective the metadata is essentially everything beyond the actual text of the conversation.

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This calls for strengthening of our data protection laws in Nigeria, this is in light of the fact that this policy cannot be operational in European regions. Sharing of data by WhatsApp with Facebook will be a contravention of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which is operational in Europe, thus WhatsApp is legally bound not to share the data and by extension operate any policy that will give leeway for that.

In essence, it is essential that users of applications are careful with regards to policies that they accept, as in this case acceptance of the policy grants WhatsApp the authorization to utilize the data in the way analysed above.

Additionally, the government has to do better in ensuring that the data of the citizens are well protected just as it has been done in Europe, and this will require comprehensive data protection laws and policies. Data privacy is very paramount especially in this age, it undoubtedly has to be better protected.

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