WhatsApp this week: It’s all about a change in policy

WhatsApp's new Terms of Service will come into effect on February 8, 2021.

What happened in WhatsApp this week. (Pixabay)

It has been a busy week in the world of WhatsApp this week. In the past week, the Facebook-owned messaging app rolled out an update to its terms of service and its privacy policy. Besides this, we also saw more details emerging about the app's upcoming multi-device support feature.

So, here's what happened in WhatsApp-ville this week:

WhatsApp changes terms of service and privacy policy: WhatsApp began sending an in-app notification to its users informing them about a change in Terms of Service (ToS) and privacy policy. WhatsApp said that this change will come into effect on February 8, 2021, and users who don't agree to these new terms they will lose access to their account. You can check all the details here.

Multi-device support: WhatsApp has long been working on introducing multi-device support on its platform. Reports in the past have detailed the progress that the company has made in developing this feature. Now, a new report hints that this feature is closer to a launch than ever before.

As per a report by WABetaInfo, the latest WhatsApp beta Android 2.21.1.3 brings a new user interface for WhatsApp Web. This new UI shows a ‘Linked Devices' button, tapping on which users will be asked if they want to join WhatsApp Web's beta program. As soon as they agree to join, they will be able to use the multi-device support feature on their laptops.

WhatsApp clarifies ToS for business chat users: WhatsApp has also clarified how its new ToS will affect its business chats. WhatsApp said that going forward, businesses users will be able to choose to receive secure hosting services from Facebook to help manage their communications with their customers on WhatsApp.

“To further increase transparency, we updated the privacy policy to describe that going forward businesses can choose to receive secure hosting services from our parent company Facebook to help manage their communications with their customers on WhatsApp. Though of course, it remains up to the user whether or not they want to message with a business on WhatsApp,” WhatsApp said in a statement to The Verge.