The latest WhatsApp privacy policy saga demonstrates that as much as consumers value transparency, they value choice even more.
WhatsApp has assured its users that its new update “does not affect the privacy of your messages with friends or family in any way”.
Instead, the Facebook subsidiary says its latest update includes changes related to “messaging a business on WhatsApp, which is optional, and provides further transparency about how we collect and use data”.
The instant messaging company has come under fire in the last week over an update that enables it to share more data with its parent company.
While it should be acknowledged that such information sharing is likely to result in better services and offerings for consumers, sentiment about such progress is coloured by Facebook’s reputation regarding privacy.
While US authorities are mulling the idea of separating Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, saying the group has become too large and powerful, consumers have become more sensitive to what information they give to tech firms in exchange for using online services.
It seems the issue for many people is that WhatsApp has not given them a choice. From February 8, users will have to agree to continue to use the service.
While it is good that WhatsApp informed users of the change, they could have left the notification as part of the update notes instead of a pop-up window in the app. The changes were going to be implemented either way and hardly anyone would have noticed. Why make something look like a choice if it isn’t?
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