WhatsApp detailed what will happen to users who do not accept its new privacy policy in the FAQ on its website.
Starting May 15, the functionality will become more limited. Users will no longer be able to read or send messages from the app. Users will still be able to receive notifications and calls, but this will be available for “a short time” only.
The new privacy policy has been controversial among some users because they worry that it allows WhatsApp to share their private messages with Facebook. However, messages between individuals on WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted, so only their recipients can see their contents. What the new privacy policy entails is that messages are being sent to businesses, which may be stored on Facebook servers and whose data may be used for advertising.
WhatsApp says that it won’t delete any accounts that haven’t accepted the new terms on May 15th. Users will still be able to accept the new privacy policy after that date.