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WhatsApp Explains What Will Happen When Users Don’t Accept Its Privacy Changes
WhatsApp’s updated Privacy Policy has been causing a lot of anger and confusion among the Facebook-owned instant messaging and voice-over-IP service since it has been released on January 4. Now, WhatsApp has finally explained what will happen to users who don’t accept it.
The new Privacy Policy states, among other things, that WhatsApp receives information from other Facebook companies and provides information to other Facebook companies.
“We may use the information we receive from them, and they may use the information we share with them, to help operate, provide, improve, understand, customize, support, and market our Services and their offerings, including the Facebook Company Products.”
TechCrunch was the first to reveal that WhatsApp plans to give users some time to review the changes before forcing them to make a decision whether to accept it or not. A newly created FAQ page makes it clear that users have until May 15 to accept the Privacy Policy updates.
Those who fail to meet the deadline won’t lose their WhatsApp account, but they won’t be able to use it to its full extend either. Instead, they will only be able to receive calls and notifications — not actually read or send messages from the app.
The accounts of users who don’t accept after May 15 will be considered to be inactive, which automatically triggers a 120-day countdown to account deletion. Once deleted, WhatsApp accounts can’t be restored.
Also Read: Spotify Is Now Available In 80+ Additional Countries
If you don’t want to accept the new Privacy Policy and allow WhatsApp to share your personal information with other Facebook companies, your best bet is to use an alternative instant messaging and voice-over-IP service.
For example, Telegram makes it possible for users to easily migrate their chat history from WhatsApp, and it has a far more user-respecting Privacy Policy to boot. Other WhatsApp alternatives worth considering include Signal, Viber, Discord, and Threema, just to name a few.
News
Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.
Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.
As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.
Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.
Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…
— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) December 3, 2024
The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.
A Collaborative Software Effort
Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.
Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.
Feature Set And Compatibility
The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.