WhatsApp responded to pushback over the new terms of its recent update, postponing the Feb. 8 deadline it had initially imposed for users to review and accept the terms.
Despite attempts earlier this week to clarify details of its new terms and reassure users that neither WhatsApp nor parent company Facebook can see their messages, hear their calls or see their shared locations, and that the update mainly applies to messaging businesses via the platform, privacy advocates—and even longtime Facebook critic Elon Musk—urged WhatsApp users to opt for alternatives such as Signal and Telegram.
Telegram said earlier this week that it topped the 500 million active user mark, gaining over 25 million new users worldwide in 72 hours.
WhatsApp said in a blog post Friday, “We’re now moving back the date on which people will be asked to review and accept the terms. No one will have their account suspended or deleted Feb. 8. We’re also going to do a lot more to clear up the misinformation around how privacy and security works on WhatsApp. We’ll then go to people gradually to review the policy at their own pace before new business options are available on May 15.”