WhatsApp updates its terms and services for users across the world

• WhatsApp updates its terms regarding data of users
• WhatsApp shares details regarding partnership with Facebook 
• Reports suggest terms and service to come into effect from Feb 8

Popular messaging app WhatsApp on Thursday announced a change in its terms of service for users across the world.

“WhatsApp is globally announcing new Terms of Service, on WhatsApp for iOS and Android (beta and stable versions) TODAY!” shared WABetaInfo on Twitter.

Among the updates, the messaging service has updated its terms regarding the data of users. 

The other key update is on how businesses can use Facebook-hosted services to store and manage their WhatsApp chats. 

The terms of service also give a detailed insight to users how WhatsApp is partnering with its parent company, Facebook. 

Reports suggest that the updated privacy policy and terms of service will come into effect from February 8.

Users that accept the terms and services will be allowed to continue using the app but those who opt out will be barred from using it.

The rollout of the new terms of service comes two days after the instant messaging app introduced a Beta update for Android for the first time in 2021.

According to WABetainfo, the updated version 2.21.1.1 has been uploaded onto the Google Play Beta Program.

Read more: Record WhatsApp calls made on New Year's eve

The portal said that WhatsApp has started asking some of its users to begin accepting the new terms of services.

“Accepting these new terms won’t change your WhatsApp experience: your chats, messages, calls and status updates are still end-to-end encrypted,” the portal said.

Multi-device use

Moreover, an important update that, according to WABetainfo, is not available to all users at the moment, is the multi-device feature.

This new feature will allow users to use WhatsApp on multiple devices without requiring an active internet connection on the main device.

“WhatsApp is considering the idea to offer a public beta for WhatsApp Web in order to let the user try the new experience to use WhatsApp without keeping your phone connected,” it said.

Read more: Voice and video calls for WhatsApp web to roll out in 2021 

However, the official release date for the feature has not been released yet.