Confused by the new WhatsApp policy, do you accept or change apps? All pages

KOMPAS.com – Several WhatsApp users began receiving notifications requesting approval regarding WhatsApp’s privacy policy and new service rules.

This notification requires users to agree to the policies and rules of the service if they wish to continue to have access to the WhatsApp application after the policy takes effect on February 8, 2021.

On social media, WhatsApp users expressed their concern about data security with this new policy.

There are also those who choose to switch applications that are considered more secure.

How do users respond to this new policy?

Cybersecurity observer, as well as Engage Media learning and engagement staff, Yerry Niko Borang, recalled that it is important to learn the chat app to be used.

“It is important to research and review the applications chat through the information on consumer rights that is usually included in the section help or website“Yerry said when contacted Kompas.com, Tuesday (1/12/2021)

According to him, as consumers, the public should be aware of this policy change.

“It is also the government’s duty to protect citizens’ data and privacy,” he said.

Also read: About WhatsApp’s new policy, clarification and summons to Kominfo

Yerry said there is concern that this policy change will lead to other state entities collecting data on citizens without being stopped.

WhatsApp’s privacy policy and new service rules are considered to have broad potential threats.

For example, concerns that the data collected will be used for economic, political and security purposes.

“For example, if this data is related to other data, for example, who likes specific products. Who has certain political leanings,” Yerry said.

In fact, he said, the data could one day be used to predict who will vote for which candidate or party in the future.

“The case of Cambridge Analytica, which with the help of Facebook managed to influence the US elections, especially the rise of Trump, is a clear example of this danger,” he said.

Other apps

When asked if there are other secure message sharing apps that could be an option, Yerry said there were several options that were considered safe.

One of them is Signal.

“First, because it is open source, which means that the compiler code is open and can be verified to do anything on our smartphones,” Yerry said.

For another reason, Signal has had a security guarantee and an independent agency audit.

Another application that you think can be tried is Wire.

Also read: New WhatsApp policy, here are 5 points you need to know

WhatsApp notifications

Kompas.com/Wahyunanda Kusuma Illustration of Signal, WhatsApp and Telegram chat applications.

Based on the notification received Kompas.com There are a number of things related to the policies and conditions transmitted by WhatsApp.

The core of the update includes information:

• WhatsApp service and how to process data
• How companies use Facebook-hosted services to store and manage WhatsApp chats
• How WhatsApp partners to offer product integration.

“By tapping I ACCEPT, you agree to the new terms and privacy policy that will take effect on February 8, 2021,” WhatsApp wrote in the announcement.

If the user does not agree, WhatsApp says that the user can visit the help center if they want to delete their account.

WhatsApp clarification

WhatsApp provides clarification on this official policy.

Reported Kompas Tekno, Saturday (9/1/2021) WhatsApp said it had shared limited data with Facebook in the field backend since 2016 to meet the infrastructure needs of the company.

Regarding the latest policy that was just announced, WhatsApp said there were no changes to the limited data sharing in the area. backend the.

The update in early 2021 emphasized WhatsApp Business messaging, which can now use Facebook’s hosting infrastructure for its WhatsApp conversations.

This means that conversations that occur on business accounts will be stored on Facebook’s servers.

However, users can choose whether they want to interact with the business account or not.

“It is the business that determines how they use or share this information,” wrote WhatsApp.

WhatsApp confirmed that it continues to use an encryption system end to end so that neither WhatsApp nor Facebook can access the private conversations of users.

Also read: WhatsApp has new rules, the Minister of Communication and Information urges the public to be prudent when choosing social networks

Called Kominfo

The Ministry of Communication and Information met with representatives from the WhatsApp / Facebook Asia Pacific Region on Monday (11/1/2021).

At that meeting, Kominfo emphasized that WhatsApp and related parties do a number of things, namely:

1. Respond to the public’s attention by providing an explanation to the Indonesian people that is fully, transparent, clear, understandable and accessible to the public regarding updates to the WhatsApp privacy policy, particularly regarding the concerns of the public regarding:

• Types of personal data collected and processed by WhatsApp and shared with third parties;
• Purpose and basis of interest in the processing of personal data;
• Guarantee of responsibility of the parties that use personal data;
• The mechanisms available to consumers to exercise their rights, including the right to withdraw consent, as well as other rights, are guaranteed by applicable legislation; and
• Other matters of public interest.

2. Increase compliance with legal provisions and laws and regulations governing the protection of personal data in Indonesia, including:

• Carry out the processing of personal data in accordance with the applicable principles;
• Provide a consent form to process personal data in Indonesian;
• Perform the registration of the electronic system;
• Ensure compliance with the rights of the owner of personal data;
• Obligations based on other provisions regulated in applicable laws and regulations.

Kominfo calls are also related to the existence of the Personal Data Protection Law Project (RUU PDP).