It has recently come to light that WhatsApp has reportedly extended the deadline around its controversial privacy policy in select regions till June 19, 2021. WhatsApp had earlier asked users to accept the new privacy policy by February 8, after which the date was further delayed to May 15.

According to WABetaInfo, a popular website that pushes regular updates around WhatsApp, the popular Facebook-owned instant messaging platform is announcing a new date for some users. “WhatsApp is announcing a new date for some users, probably living in specific countries like Germany and Argentina (it’s not confirmed yet but it’s really possible), where the government has suspended the updated Terms of Service: June 19th, 2021! Within that date, some WhatsApp users on Android and iOS will have to accept the terms if they want to continue using WhatsApp without any limitation," states WABetaInfo.

WhatsApp has received heavy backlash over its new privacy policy. In fact, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) recently asked WhatsApp to withdraw its new privacy policy in a letter. The Indian government has given WhatsApp seven days to respond to the notice. If WhatsApp fails to give a “satisfactory response”, WhatsApp might face legal action.

WhatsApp responded that its goal is to “provide information about new options we are building that people will have, to message a business on WhatsApp, in the future. While the majority of users who have received the new terms of service have accepted them, we appreciate some people haven't had the chance to do so yet. No accounts were deleted on May 15 because of this update and no one in India lost functionality of WhatsApp either”.