WHATSAPP • GETTY • PICTURE POSED BY MODELWhatsApp SHOCK - Millions of UK users are now banned from the Facebook-owned chat app
WhatsApp BLOCK - Millions of UK users NOW banned from chat app
WHATSAPP has blocked millions of users in the UK from using the chat app.
WhatsApp has enforced a major change which has left millions of users in Britain banned from accessing the chat app.
WhatsApp is the world’s most popular chat app, with over 1.5billion people using its services each month across the globe.
The popularity of the chat app was underlined by the huge amount of messages sent on its record-breaking day on New Year’s Eve 2017.
On that day 75billion messages were sent, including 13billion photos and five billion videos - despite a major outage.
But now millions of people that enjoy WhatsApp’s services will be unable to use the chat app in the UK.
The Facebook-owned messenger for iOS, Android, and desktop will no longer allow people under the age of 16 to use it.
Until recently, WhatsApp had allowed that aged 13 years-old and above to join the messaging service in the UK.
However, on Friday, May 25, 2018, the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) kicked into force.
The EU’s data privacy laws give the public more rights over how personal information is used and it raises the amount that firms can be fined if they breach it.
As a result, those who do not meet the new minimum age requirement for WhatsApp will no longer be able to use the hugely-popular messaging service.
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WhatsApp said that it was not asking for any new rights to collect personal information as part of its updated terms of service.
The company said: "Our goal is simply to explain how we use and protect the limited information we have about you.”
WhatsApp said their update ensured it could "meet the new high standards of transparency for how we protect the privacy of our users".
In the weeks running up to GDPR becoming official on May 25, WhatsApp users reported online that they had been asked in advance to confirm they were over 16.
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Any WhatsApp users that did not verify their age before GDPR going live yesterday will have to do so now to continue using the chat app.
Fellow internet giants such as Facebook and Twitter were also rolling out new terms of service prior to the GDPR launch.
WhatsApp said it plans to keep the over-13 age restriction, which previously applied to the UK, in the rest of the world.
It also confirmed it will launch a feature in the coming weeks that will enable users to download a copy of the data WhatsApp has collected on them – another requirement of GDPR.
EXPRESS NEWSPAPERSThe message that now appears when you access WhatsAppThe newly enforced GDPR regulations require clear consent from users for companies to access their data.
The regulations also give users greater powers to access and control how their data is used, and the right to have personal data erased.
In other WhatsApp news, users this week were left stunned after a “critical bug” let blocked contacts send them messages.
The issue was highlighted by renowned tipster WABetaInfo on Twitter.
The account for all things WhatsApp earlier this week tweeted: “I’m receiving on Discord/Twitter some messages/mentions about a critical bug on WhatsApp: blocked contacts can send you messages.
“The first time I thought they were wrong, instead. Unblocking and blocking the contact should help to fix.”
WABetaInfo later added: “It looks blocked contacts might sometimes be able to see your profile picture and last seen.
“It really seems a server-side bug.
“I recommend you to remove the blocked contact from your Address Book, to configure Privacy Settings on “My Contacts” and mute the blocked contact’s chat”.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, a WhatsApp spokesperson on Wednesday said: “We are aware of the issue and are rolling out a fix.”
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