New WhatsApp privacy policy to go unimplemented in Turkey

By Aysu Bicer

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's Competition Board on Friday said the messaging application WhatsApp's controversial new privacy update will not be implemented in Turkey.

The authority has been informed by WhatsApp that the new privacy policy, which includes sharing certain data with parent company Facebook, will not go into effect in Turkey for any users, including those who accept it, it said in a statement.

In January, the watchdog officially launched an investigation into WhatsApp after the messaging app forced users to approve the new terms and conditions, or risk losing key features and the account.

The changes sparked privacy concerns, with many users switching to rivals such as Signal, Telegram and BiP.

Rather than changing the policy, WhatsApp instead moved the original deadline from Feb. 8 to May 15 for users to accept it.

Later it relaxed the May 15 deadline as well, saying users who do not agree to the new terms would not lose access to their accounts. "... No, we can’t see your personal messages. No, we won’t delete your account. Yes, you can accept at any time," it said in a statement on Twitter.

In line with new social media laws enforced in Turkey on Oct. 1, 2020, social media platforms that are accessed over a million times per day need to appoint local representatives.

They have to respond to requests by the Turkish government concerning personal and privacy rights within 48 hours.

Top platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, VKontakte (VK), YouTube, Dailymotion, TikTok, Spotify, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video have all agreed to appoint a representative.

Social networks that do not comply with court orders to remove illegal content are subjected to penalties.