We Don't Sell Data: Microsoft Mocks Facebook-WhatsApp With Skype's Privacy Policy

The recent policy update by WhatsApp faced much criticism from its user base worldwide. The move went south for the Facebook-owned chat app, as downloads of its rival instant messaging apps Signal and Telegram grew substantially.

The backlash was followed by mockery by many, and Microsoft is now the latest one to join the bandwagon.

Reuters

In a recent tweet, Microsoft-owned Skype let Twitter users know of its own privacy policy. In what can only be assumed as a dig at WhatsApp, the video conferencing platform wrote that it does not sell its user data to third parties.

"Skype respects your privacy. We are committed to keeping your personal data private and do not sell to 3rd parties," Skype tweeted.

(Image: Twitter/ Skype)

Along with the text was a link to Skype¡¯s privacy policy last updated in November 2020. Information under the following topics are listed on the policy webpage - Collection and use of personal data, ways for the user to control the data and other important privacy information.

The tweet follows the increasing scrutiny of the new privacy policy by WhatsApp that hints at the data collected from the chat app being shared with its parent company Facebook. Several sections under the policy have been condemned online since its release. People have even pointed out the loopholes in the privacy agreement that allow the service to share personal data of the app users with Facebook.

WhatsApp recently came up with a response to this, writing - "We want to be clear that the policy update does not affect the privacy of your messages with friends or family in any way. Instead, this update includes changes related to messaging a business on WhatsApp, which is optional, and provides further transparency about how we collect and use data," in a new FAQ page on its website.