Quicktake
Why WhatsApp’s New Privacy Rules Have Sparked Alarm
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Facebook Inc.’s WhatsApp began alerting its 2 billion users in early January to an update of its privacy policy -- and if they wanted to keep using the popular messaging app, they had to accept it. The new terms caused an outcry among technology experts, privacy advocates, billionaire entrepreneurs and government organizations and triggered some defections to rival services. WhatsApp initially said the changes were necessary to help it integrate better with other Facebook products. Then it pushed back the deadline amid the backlash. Now it’s pledging “to try and address concerns we’re hearing.”