KARACHI: Pakistani users rushed to messaging apps Signal and Telegram after WhatsApp announced a new privacy policy saying it reserves the right to share data with parent Facebook.
The number of downloads in the country recorded a massive spike while WhatsApp suffered a heavy decline in usage.
The world’s most used messaging app came under fire across the globe over its new terms of service putting its data security under scrutiny from the users.
In an announcement on January 4, WhatsApp had told its two billion users that they will not be able to use its services after February 8 if they do not allow it to share data with Facebook. It has since revised this deadline.
WhatsApp postpones new terms of service
According to data from analytics firm Sensor Tower, Signal was downloaded 462,000 times between Jan 5 and Jan 12, recording a 47,529% increase compared to the previous week.
| App | Dec 28 to Jan 4 | Jan 5 to 12 | % Change |
| Signal | 970 | 462,000 | 47529% |
| Telegram | 54,000 | 687,000 | 1172% |
| 611,000 | 442,000 | -28 |
Similarly, Telegram was downloaded 687,000 times during the said period, recording a 1,172% jump.
Meanwhile, WhatsApp saw a 28% decline following the announcement.
WhatsApp scrambling to control the fallout, launched a global communication initiative but failed to satisfy the users and ultimately postponed the new policy till May.
"Thank you to everyone who's reached out. We're still working to counter any confusion by communicating directly with WhatsApp users.
"No one will have their account suspended or deleted on Feb 8 and we'll be moving back our business plans until after May," it wrote on Twitter.
WhatsApp added that it will give plenty of time to users for them to review and understand the terms of use.
"Rest assured we never planned to delete any accounts based on this and will not do so in the future."
“It does not make any difference to decision makers whether their internet speed is 3G, 4G or 5G,” says PPP chief
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