ISLAMABAD – The National Information Technology Board (NITB) on Fridayasked people to not share any personal, official or sensitiveinformation/documents via messaging app, WhatsApp, which is in question nowa day over its latest privacy policy.
The board said that after WhatsApp’s new privacy policy comes into effectfrom February 8, it would share data of users with Facebook. It alsoreminded public that the users of the messaging appl will have to agree tonew terms to continue using their services.
Under the new policy, the messaging app will share the data about users’location, IP address, phone and network operator details including IMEI,the NITB warned. It also said that personal data of a user includingmonetary transaction and payments will also be shared by WhatsApp.
The Pakistani body has issued a slew of advices to public about how usingWhatsapp after the new privacy policies are implemented. It said, “Do notshare sensitive information/ documents via WhatsApp at any cost.”
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On January 4, WhatsApp announced that it reserved the right to share somedata including location and phone number with Facebook. The announcementhas made the governments around the globe to dig out the implications ofthe new privacy policy.
Meanwhile, in response to the messaging app’s announcement, FederalMinister for Information Technology Amin ul Haq said Friday that working ondeveloping WhatsApp alternate, named Smart Office, is underway, adding thatthe locally-developed app is currently in testing phase.
