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Users deserting WhatsApp
Privacy policy prompts panic
MESSAGING APP SIGNAL has seen a surge in signups following panic about changes to WhatsApp’s privacy policy. WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app in the world by a long way, with around two billion monthly active users. Facebook acquired the company for $19bn in 2014, and soon afterwards added end–to–end encryption, ensuring the privacy and security of users’ messages. In 2016, WhatsApp users received a one–time opportunity to opt out of sharing account data with Facebook. Now WhatsApp has notified users that as of February 8, 2021, their data will be shared with the parent company, with no opt–out. (It’s not clear whether any 2016 opt–out will continue to be honored.)