WhatsApp Delays Launch of Business Feature Update

Facebook-owned messaging platform WhatsApp delayed an update aimed at increasing business transactions on the platform after growing concerns from users over its privacy policy.

WhatsApp users received notification earlier this month that the platform is preparing new privacy policies and terms, which could share some user data with the Facebook app.

That sparked global outcry and saw users migrate to rival messaging apps, including Telegram and Signal.

WhatsApp, according to a Reuters report, said it would postpone the launch of its new policy until May, due for release in February.

The update focuses on the possibility of users sending messages with business features, and the update does not affect private conversations, which will continue to be protected by end-to-end encryption.

“This update does not expand our ability to share data with Facebook,” WhatsApp said.

“While not everyone is shopping with a business feature on WhatsApp at the moment, we think more people will choose to do it in the future and it is important that people are aware of this service,” WhatsApp added.

Facebook has launched business features on WhatsApp over the past year to increase revenue from higher-growing units, such as WhatsApp and Instagram, while shaping the e-commerce infrastructure across the Facebook platform.

Facebook acquired WhatsApp for $ 19 billion in 2014, but has been slow to make money.

The new privacy policy allows the platform to share certain personal data, such as phone numbers and IP addresses of users, with Facebook.

“We do not keep records of who sent messages or called everyone. We also cannot see the location you share and we do not share your contact list with Facebook,” WhatsApp said.

In October, WhatsApp said it would start offering in-app purchases via its Facebook Shops and would offer corporate customers using the service’s messaging tool the ability to save those messages on Facebook servers.

At the time WhatsApp said chats with businesses using the new hosting service would not be protected by end-to-end encryption.