WhatsApp users who do not accept the new privacy policy will not able to read or send messages

After causing an immense virtual meltdown with the declaration of its new privacy policy, and afterward deferring the implementation of said policy because of online fury, WhatsApp has spent the last few weeks doing whatever it takes not to start mischief. Notwithstanding, it has recently uncovered what will befall clients who don’t acknowledge its new privacy policy by the May 15 deadline.

WhatsApp has evidently been emailing some of its merchant partners to advise them that it will “slowly ask” clients to acknowledge the new privacy policy “to have full functionality” of the app, as per TechCrunch, which saw an email and affirmed its veracity with WhatsApp. The email additionally highlighted a public WhatsApp FAQ page named, “What happens on the effective date?”

The FAQ page expresses that WhatsApp won’t delete the accounts of clients who don’t acknowledge the new terms, yet that they will not have the option to use it like they regularly do.

“If you haven’t accepted by then, WhatsApp will not delete your account. However, you won’t have the full functionality of WhatsApp until you accept. For a short time, you’ll be able to receive calls and notifications, but won’t be able to read or send messages from the app,” WhatsApp wrote.

If the “for a short time” part makes them scratch your head, WhatsApp explained, kind of. Clients who don’t acknowledge the new privacy policy by May 15 will be viewed as inactive clients and subject to WhatsApp’s current policy on that front, as detailed below.

“To maintain security, limit data retention, and protect the privacy of our users, WhatsApp accounts are generally deleted after 120 days of inactivity,” WhatsApp states. “Content stored locally on a user’s device before account deletion will remain until WhatsApp is deleted from the device. When a user reregisters for WhatsApp on the same device, their locally stored content will reappear.”

Presently, in the wake of reading this, it actually wasn’t actually certain whether WhatsApp would delete accounts of individuals who haven’t acknowledged its privacy policy following 120 days. Gizmodo connected with WhatsApp to ask for clarification. We’ll make a point to update this blog on the off chance that we hear back.

Other than holding its head down, WhatsApp has additionally been attempting to promise clients that it doesn’t have any odious designs to share their personal information with its parent organization, Facebook. (It ought to be noticed that the organization has been sharing fundamental metadata to Facebook, for example, phone make anonymous identifiers, since 2016).

Just so it’s clear, the app’s new privacy policy doesn’t influence clients that simply utilize the application to message with loved ones right now. The progressions just apply to businesses that use WhatsApp to communicate with their customers.

On Thursday, WhatsApp declared that it would begin showing a banner in the application giving more data about its privacy policy “that people can read at their own pace.”

“Eventually, we’ll start reminding people to review and accept these updates to keep using WhatsApp,” WhatsApp said.

Strangely, in the declaration, WhatsApp referenced that it was significant that individuals knew “how we can provide WhatsApp for free.” The organization said that it charges businesses to give “customer service” on the app, and gets Facebook included so businesses can deal with their inventory across applications.

While a few clients might be shocked by WhatsApp’s new privacy policy—which, let us recollect, doesn’t influence individual clients for the present—this business update is a significant update that few things are at any point genuinely free in tech. On the off chance that a service or app claims it is free, remember you’re most likely paying for it with your information.