It will ask European users to confirm they are at least 16 when they are prompted to accept new terms of service and an updated privacy policy in the coming weeks. At this moment it is not known how it will verify answers from user. Other changes announced by WhatsApp include enabling users to download a report detailing the data it holds on them, such as the make and model of the device they use, their contacts and groups, and any blocked numbers.
European regulators have already disrupted a move by WhatsApp to change its policies to allow it to share users’ phone numbers and other information with Facebook to help improve the product and more effectively target ads. WhatsApp, founded in 2009, had more than 1.5 billion users in January according to Facebook. WhatsApp’s minimum age of use will remain 13 years in the rest of the world, outside Europe. The new European rules defending privacy , known as GDPR, goes live on May 25. In some ways, this will change the world.
