Posted on January 27th, 2021 |
Thomas Meisinger, CIO: Business Solutions at SanlamConnect provides insights into the company’s view on the updates that popular social media platform WhatsApp have proposed which have caused much consternation and debate among users.
What are the updates?
Earlier in January, WhatsApp indicated that it would be implementing updates to its privacy policy. People may gradually review the policy at their own leisure before new business options are available on 15 May (this was pushed out from the initial date of 8 February). The update includes new options users will have to message a business on WhatsApp, and provides further transparency about how they collect and use data. For additional detail, click here.
“SanlamConnect currently uses WhatsApp as one of the channels to communicate with clients, so we have extensively assessed the concerns, and the details of the amended privacy policy in order to determine a way forward from a Sanlam business perspective,” Meisinger explains.
SanlamConnect’s view on the use of WhatsApp
According to Meisinger, based on these assessments, SanlamConnect has opted to continue to use WhatsApp. He shares some of the key findings of the assessment.
From a security perspective, WhatsApp’s offering has not changed.
“As per WhatsApp’s terms and conditions, WhatsApp’s security features still include end-to-end encryption on messages – meaning that the content of WhatsApp messages cannot be accessed by WhatsApp or third parties (including Facebook),” he explains.
“WhatsApp also does not retain messages in the ordinary course of their business and deletes messages from its servers once delivered.”
However, should clients object, they should indicate an alternative communication medium already in use by the Sanlam Group.
Similarly, where Sanlam users use WhatsApp as part of a business process (for example incident management, team or department communication and updates, amongst others) or for communicating to their groups, the existing practice may continue. However, a Sanlam user may, at their discretion, decide on whether or not to continue using WhatsApp. Naturally, the use of WhatsApp cannot be forced on any user.
What are the changes?
The changes to WhatsApp’s privacy policy, Meisinger points out, only relate to how WhatsApp will share information (for example metadata, IP addresses, profile pictures, status updates and user contact information) within the Facebook group of companies and how this shared information will be used.
“Whilst metadata does not allow anyone to read a user’s messages, it allows for transparency as to who and when a user messaged someone, for how long, and depending on the activation of the location settings, from where,” he says.
How will the metadata be used?
According to the WhatsApp privacy policy, the sharing of information amongst Facebook companies is intended to help operate, provide, improve, understand, customise, support and market services and offerings. This includes:
helping to improve infrastructure and delivery systems;
understanding how the WhatsApp or Facebook services are used;
promoting safety, security and integrity across all Facebook company products;
improving services and user experience such as personalising features and contents,
helping users to complete transactions
showing relevant ads across FaceBook Group
providing integrations which enable users to connect WhatsApp with other Facebook company products. For example, allowing users to connect a Facebook Pay account to pay for things on WhatsApp.
Being a free and optional service, they are within their rights to amend their terms, Meisinger explains, adding “It’s worth noting that if you are an existing user, you can choose not to have your WhatsApp account information shared with Facebook to improve your Facebook ads and products experiences. Existing users who accept their updated Terms and Privacy Policy will have an additional 30 days to make this choice by going to Settings > Account.”
It’s also important to remember that the practice of an entity sharing personal information with other entities within its corporate group is not uncommon, he further explains, saying, “if you use an iPhone or an Android phone, you’re probably already sharing more information with Apple and Google than WhatsApp will be sharing with Facebook.”
Should I use alternatives to WhatsApp?
“That’s entirely your call,” he says. Currently, from a security and privacy perspective, Signal is the least intrusive. “This has not yet been widely adopted and may lack the user friendliness and functionality of WhatsApp,” he points out.
Telegram on the other hand may share user personal data with their parent company, Telegram Group Inc. located in the British Virgin Islands, and Telegram FZ-LLC, a group member located in Dubai to help provide, improve and support Telegram services. It has been reported that nearly eight years after its initial launch, Telegram needs to monetise its platform by either advertising or finding a buyer in order to ensure survival.
Thus, it should be noted that although messaging applications such as Telegram and Signal have been touted as possible alternatives to WhatsApp, there is no guarantee that these platforms will not adapt their business models as adoption increases along with the opportunity for monetisation.
We are aware that the South African Information Regulator, has engaged with Facebook South Africa regarding specified privacy concerns and is currently analysing WhatsApp’s privacy policy (which applies to users in South Africa) to determine whether the updated policy complies with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013. The Information Regulator intends to engage Facebook South Africa once it has completed its analyses, and developments in this regard will be monitored closely.
“Should we have any further updates, we will keep you informed.”
