WhatsApp has withdrawn its threat to hold features to ransom until users agree to a new privacy policy.

Two weeks ago, as the new privacy policy was about to be implemented, WhatsApp launched a page explaining what would happen to users who did not agree to the new terms. Now that the deadline has passed, WhatsApp has changed its policy and no longer forces users to agree.

WhatsApp's original plan was that while no one would lose access to the app immediately, users who persevered would receive more annoying prompts, and over the course of several weeks, functionality would gradually be impaired and nothing would be available.

The company assures users that their accounts will not be deleted as a result of the changes, but there is an invalid 120-day deletion policy that will likely be implemented eventually.

However, the company has now changed its mind and the support page has been updated to reflect this. A comparison of the current page with the Internet Archive version will confirm the changes, but the important thing is that there is no longer a threat of degradation, and WhatsApp has now stated that it has "no plans" for such punishment.

"Currently, there are no plans for these reminders to become persistent and limit the app's functionality," the page states, explaining that "the majority of users who have seen the update have accepted it."

In a statement sent to The Next Web, the company elaborated on its reasoning. "In light of recent discussions with various authorities and privacy experts, we want to clarify that we have no current plans to limit WhatsApp's functionality for users who have not yet accepted the update.

"Instead, we plan to remind users from time to time about the update, as well as any relevant optional features they may choose to use, such as communicating with companies supported by Facebook."

WhatsApp has faced severe backlash, with privacy-conscious consumers leaving the service for rival options like Telegram and Signal, and governments objecting to the updates.

If the new support page is accurate and the "majority" of users have accepted the new terms, then parent company Facebook may have decided that it has done enough and that going after the last few users is not worth the PR backlash.

Whatever the reason, if they refuse to accept WhatsApp's new terms of service, they have won the battle of wills and do not seem to have to accept sharing data with the company WhatsApp has not ruled out the possibility that they will continue to play hardball, but for now we can rest assured It will.