Those using WhatsApp in the UK and EU will avoid new rules that force users to share their data with Facebook.

Users outside of the European region will have to agree with updates to data sharing rules by 8 February or delete their accounts.

European users will however need to comply with other new terms in order to continue using the app.

The new Facebook privacy policy for European users says that data can be shared with other Facebook companies to show personalised ads and offers, the BBC reported on Thursday.

Previously WhatsApp users across the world could opt out of sharing data with the social media platform.

Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, today named the richest man on the planet, urged people to use the Signal messaging app instead in a tweet responding to the updated terms.

New EU privacy laws came in to force last year which saw Facebook make changes across Messenger, Instagram, and Facebook for European users in order to comply with the new rules.

In December the EU also revealed plans to crackdown on BigTech companies like Facebook, with companies now facing fines of up to 10 per cent of turnover if they don’t comply with new rules.

Share Story: