MENLO PARK – Instant messaging service WhatsApp has announced to change its privacy policy by raising the minimum age requirement to use the messenger to 16 in the Europe.
The move comes ahead of the introduction of new EU privacy laws in May.
The current minimum age is 13, but from May 25 and with the introduction of the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Facebook-owned company will increase for those inside the EU.
WhatsApp says the update ensured it could “meet the new high standards of transparency for how we protect the privacy of our users”.
WhatsApp users in Europe will be sent a message asking them to accept new terms and conditions and will have to confirm they are aged at least 16.
Moreover, WhatsApp announced that in the coming weeks it will allow users to download and see the limited data that it collects when its messaging service is used.
According to the company, this specific new feature will be rolled out to users all around the world, not just those in Europe, on the newest version of the app that’s coming soon.
The company says it plans to keep the over-13 age restriction in the rest of the world.
Facebook and Twitter have also been rolling out new terms of service ahead of the GDPR launch, in order to bring their businesses in line with the new regulations – which require clear consent from users to access their data.
