From macrumors.com
![whatsapp privacy banner](https://images.macrumors.com/t/mJhvJtBNKXvK4vZzdeDQeW3rquE=/400x0/filters:quality(90)/article-new/2021/02/whatsapp-privacy-banner.jpg?lossy)
WhatsApp has revealed how it will gradually cripple accounts held by users who do not accept the platform’s impending privacy policy changes, due to come into effect on May 15.
According to an email seen by TechCrunch to one of its merchant partners, WhatsApp said it will “slowly ask” users who have not yet accepted the policy changes to comply with the new terms over the coming weeks, “in order to have full functionality of WhatsApp” starting May 15.
If they still don’t accept the terms, “for a short time, these users will be able to receive calls and notifications, but will not be able to read or send messages from the app,” the company added in the note.
The company confirmed to TechCrunch that the note accurately characterizes its plan, and that the “short time” will span a few weeks. WhatsApp’s policy for inactive users states that accounts are “generally deleted after 120 days of inactivity.”