WhatsApp has changed its software update deadline - what users need to know

WhatsApp has announced that it will be pushing back its agreement deadline for users to accept the latest update of the app.

Initially, users ran the risk of having their WhatsApp account suspended or deleted on 8 February if they refused to accept the new terms - this has been pushed back to 15 May.

WhatsApp said that it will be doing “a lot more to clear up the misinformation around how privacy and security works on WhatsApp”, and that it will “go to people gradually to review the policy at their own pace”.

The move comes after much confusion occurred around a new WhatsApp update, with users being led to believe that they had to agree to their data being shared with Facebook, which bought WhatsApp in 2014.

However, this turned out not to affect UK users, due to the fact that locations around the world are actually serviced by two separate branches of WhatsApp, and those locations are subject to different laws.

What is the confusion about?

WhatsApp Ireland Limited covers countries and territories within the European region, including countries in the European Union. The UK is listed under the areas serviced by this branch of WhatsApp.

You can see the full list of countries and territories covered by WhatsApp Ireland Limited here.

For users who don’t live in one of the countries or territories listed, WhatsApp services are provided by WhatsApp LLC, not WhatsApp Ireland Limited.

WhatsApp LLC recently updated its Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, informing users that WhatsApp would be sharing their data with Facebook, which bought WhatsApp back in 2014.

WhatsApp LLC first began sharing data with Facebook in 2016 by default, but users were given the option to opt out of this data sharing. In the most recent update, data sharing has been made mandatory, with no opt out option available.

The information being shared by WhatsApp LLC includes, but is not limited to:

• your account registration information (such as your phone number)