[Jan} New Whatsapp policy

Question 1

What was the proposed update?

Answer 1

the option to be able to opt-out of sharing data with Facebook no longer being available.

Question 2

What is Cambridge Analytica scandal on similar lines?

Answer 2

was concerned with the obtaining of the personal data of millions of Facebook users without their consent by British consulting firm Cambridge Analytica, predominantly to be used for political advertising.

Question 3

Which data is already shared by whatsapp?

Answer 3

user’s phone number and IP address, with Facebook.

Question 4

Scenario in europe?

Answer 4

change in terms of services is not applicable to its users in Europe, as Europe’s data protection regime going by the name of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), prevents such sharing between apps. -> hence they exercise far greater ownership and thus the control of their data than the rest of the world.

Question 5

What India has?

Answer 5

All India has is a draft version of a law, and it has been so for a few years now.

Question 6

Key Features of the Policy?

Answer 6

1. Hardware Information: Will collect info of battery level, signal strength, app version, browser information, mobile network, connection information (including phone number, mobile operator or ISP) among others.
2. Deleting the Account: If someone only deletes the WhatsApp app from their device without using the in-app delete my account feature, then that user’s information will remain stored with the platform.
3. Data storage : data in some cases will be transferred to the United States or other parts where Facebook’s affiliate companies are based.
4. Location: Even if a user does not use their location-relation features, Whatsapp collects IP addresses and other information like phone number area codes to estimate your general location (city, country).
5. Payment Services: WhatsApp says that if anyone uses their payments services they will process additional information about you, including payment account and transaction information.

Question 7

Issues?

Answer 7

1. contradicts the recommendations of the Srikrishna Committee report, which forms the basis of the Data Protection Bill 2019.
2. against the principle of Data Localisation
3. WhatsApp can now share one’s metadata, essentially everything beyond the conversation’s actual text.