What Happens if You Don't Accept WhatsApp's New Privacy Policy?

Two weeks after a new privacy policy was set to take effect, WhatsApp is still scrambling to inform users of their digital rights.

The chat service came under fire last month when it warned folks they had until Feb. 8 to agree to planned changes—which deal primarily with businesses using WhatsApp to send and store consumer texts. Poor communication regarding exactly what the update entails prompted backlash about how much personal data is shared with parent company Facebook. WhatsApp later delayed the rollout to May 15, giving people less than three months to accept the terms or find a new messaging platform.

In an email to one of its merchant partners, intercepted and confirmed by TechCrunch, the firm said it will "slowly ask" uncooperative users to comply "in order to have full functionality of WhatsApp." Those who refuse consent will, "for a short time" (i.e. a few weeks) still be able to receive calls and notifications, but most important of all, they won't be able to read or send messages from the app anymore.