The popular messenger service WhatsApp is changing its terms of use for the new year. Some changes affect the privacy policy. The app has been sending users various in-app notifications since Wednesday to inform them of the changes. There was always the choice of approving the new regulations immediately or postponing them until later.

The new changes come into force on February 8th. From this point onwards, users have no choice but to agree to the new conditions, otherwise the app can no longer be used. The core of the changes is the collaboration between WhatsApp and the parent company Facebook. The freedoms formulated in the terms and conditions seem to be rather broad. Specifically, it says, among other things, that the data received from users who operate their own services can be used to provide, improve, understand, individualize, support and market. Even if this function is already integrated into the app, users can currently deactivate it. From February 8, however, consent will be mandatory for the use of the app and all other services belonging to Facebook.

This is also mentioned in the terms and conditions Want to fight spam, threats, abuse and legal violations. Of course, this raises questions about end-to-end encryption, or it does not quite reveal what Facebook has in mind. It would be conceivable to display relevant advertising with corresponding keywords or the like. An indication of this is also provided by the sentence that you allow yourself “to make recommendations for you (…) and to support you in making purchases and transactions” . In the future, a direct link with the payment service Facebook Pay would also be conceivable.

Who does not If you have a problem sharing all data with the company and have already agreed to the function, Whatsapp can continue to use without hesitation. Everyone else should spend the next few weeks trying to find suitable alternatives.