A message on WhatsApp has gone viral, alleging that the social messaging app now has a “new rule that allows you to use your whatsapp.” The alarming part of the broadcast message is that “everything you’ve posted can be posted starting today, even deleted messages.” That is, the WhatsApp (system) admin can access posted and deleted messages.
Another part of the broadcast message reads that WhatsApp will cost 0.01 euro per message unless you send this message to 10 people. ‘’When you do, the light will turn blue otherwise, WhatsApp will activate billing.”
Verification:
The CDD War Room found that the “I do not authorize” broadcast message went viral in February 2021, shortly after WhatsApp notified Its users of an update in its terms of service and privacy policy. According to the circular, the update was expected to take effect in February 2021. The announcement read, “By tapping Agree, you accept the new terms and privacy policy, which take effect on 8 February 2021. After this date, you’ll need to accept these updates to continue using WhatsApp.”
The announcement generated uproar and mixed reactions, compelling WhatsApp to shift the date of effect from February 8 to May 21, 2021.
We therefore found that the purveyors of this “I do not authorize” message took advantage of the new update on WhatsApp’s terms of service and privacy policy to spread the message.
The CDD War Room found some other discrepancies in the purported message.
The first discrepancy is the spelling of WhatsApp as “Whatsap” in the first paragraph. Instead of a double P, the broadcast message used a single P.
The second discrepancy is the inconsistency in the deadline date. The first sentence reads “Remember, the new Whatsap rule that allows you to use your photos begins tomorrow!” while the second sentence goes thus “Remember that the deadline is today!!!” The first sentence says it begins tomorrow, while the second sentence says today. Moreso, such policies are expected to carry a specific date when such updates will take effect.
Finally, the paragraph that says “WhatsApp will cost 0.01 euro per message is false as the social messaging app does not charge per message.
The CDD War Room can therefore establish that these discrepancies are enough to categorize the “I do not authorize” broadcast message as fake and circulated to mislead the public.
Verdict: FALSE
The CDD War Room found that the “I do not authorize” broadcast message did not emanate from WhatsApp. We found several discrepancies in the viral message that show the broadcast message is fake and circulated to mislead the public.
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