“We want to be clear that the policy update does not affect the privacy of your messages with friends or family in any way. Instead, this update includes changes related to messaging a business on WhatsApp, which is optional, and provides further transparency about how we collect and use data,” the statement said.

The statement claimed that neither WhatsApp nor Facebook can read users’ messages or hear their calls with friends, family, and co-workers on WhatsApp.

We want to address some rumors and be 100% clear we continue to protect your private messages with end-to-end encryption. pic.twitter.com/6qDnzQ98MP

— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) January 12, 2021

Earlier, WhatsApp announced update to Privacy Policy which states that WhatsApp will share user data with Facebook and its "family of companies" starting February 2021.

Previously, users could opt-out of such data sharing, but the new policy removes this option. The new Privacy Policy does not apply within EU, since it is illegal under GDPR.

WhatsApp’s decision has caused a storm among users over privacy concerns. The users took to Twitter to express their outrage over the data-sharing agreement and called for quitting the messaging app. (ILKHA)