WhatsApp delays controversial policy following outcry

WhatsApp has announced a delay of a new privacy policy that was to be effected in February. WhatsApp announced the delay following huge outcry on whether the new policy would warrant sharing data with Facebook.

"We’ve heard from so many people how much confusion there is around our recent update. There's been a lot of misinformation causing concern and we want to help everyone understand our principles and the facts," WhatsApp announced on Friday.

Users have now three more months to agree to the new rules. However, contents of the new policies will not change. WhatsApp had told users to agree to the new policy by February 8,otherwise have their accounts deleted or suspended. WhatsApp said on Twitter that it will not suspend or delete any accounts.

Amid fears that WhatsApp will now have to be sharing private messages with Facebook, the company said the end to end encryption still holds.

"WhatsApp was built on a simple idea: what you share with your friends and family stays between you. This means we will always protect your personal conversations with end-to-end encryption, so that neither WhatsApp nor Facebook can see these private messages," they said.

The new feature makes it "simple" to chat with businesses on WhatsApp. The company speculates many people will move their businesses to Facebook and WhatsApp.

The company also intends to make Facebook and Instagram business profiles available on WhatsApp with purchase and pay options.