With a new set of terms and conditions, popular messaging platform WhatsApp has become a latest source of grave concern for users – and the government despite it having been stalled until May.
Strong Message By Government
Citing the concerns, now the government has sent out a strong message to the Facebook-owned platform to reconsider, and also started to consider more secure alternatives like Telegram, Signal and recently launched desi app Sandesh.
Read More – Govt Officials Start Using ‘Sandes’, A Whatsapp Alternative For More Privacy, Data Security
The recently proposed privacy policy will allow WhatsApp to share “some” user data with parent firm Facebook though it has clarified on multiple occasions that it “does not affect the privacy of your messages with your friends and family in any way.”
On top of that, there is no way to opt out, at least at this point of time for most users globally including in India.
It is noteworthy here that the update does not apply to the European market due to the EU’s stern privacy guidelines that WhatsApp is forced to comply with.
This was explicitly highlighted by the government of India in its message to WhatsApp, saying the platform cannot unilaterally put in such a policy in its biggest market.
Further saying that WhatsApp was obliged to respect the privacy of its largest user base.
CyberMedia Research Study
With an overwhelming response, over 79% of users across the top eight cities of India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Pune are reconsidering using WhatsApp according to the new CyberMedia Research (CMR) study.
Out of that, over 28% of those even planning to leave the platform after the implementation of its ‘take it or leave it policy’ in May 2021.
While 51% of the respondents are willing to minimize the use of WhatsApp and might move to Telegram, Signal or other chat apps.
Read More – Transfer WhatsApp Chats To Telegram With This Simple Trick: WhatsApp To Telegram!
Interestingly, 28% were sure that they won’t be continuing with WhatsApp at all.
WhatsApp Not Free
The Head, Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), CMR told Financial Express Online, Prabhu Ram said “WhatsApp has been the default messaging tool for consumers, even more than the normal SMS. It was free, it was intimate, it was something we owned. But now because of this take it or leave it policy, the consumers are becoming aware that it was not free, after all,”.
Further mentioned about the results he said that there was a sense of anger (49%) and loss of trust (45%) along with a feeling of sadness, and most importantly, breach of trust (35%).
While there are a mere 10% of consumers remained indifferent to the new policy announcement.
With these events, Telegram seems to be the biggest beneficiary with 41% of those surveyed planning to switch to it while 35% preferred Signal as an alternative.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.