Incident #CDCDBC · 07 APR 2026notable
WeChat EU privacy policy reworks retention table, minors rules and contact channels
The EU privacy policy replaces 'Child' with 'Minor', adds parent/guardian email as a consent-verification option, and says Guardian Mode is on by default for Minors in some jurisdictions. Contact by email is replaced with web forms, and the legal bases for profile and media data move from contract to legitimate interests. Several retention terms change: access tokens are not stored, and registration data may be kept for up to three months after account deletion. Chat deletion is now described as 'shortly after' delivery rather than within 3 hours, and push-token and WeChat Out entries are new.
Taken from you
- Legal basis for profile data and profile media changed from contract necessity to WeChat's legitimate interests
- Direct data protection email address removed in favour of a web form
- Customer support information now includes account identifiers such as mobile number and email
- Parent/guardian email address may now be collected for consent verification
Won back
- Access tokens are now stated as not stored, only accessed momentarily
- Parents can request review, deletion or revocation of consent for a Minor's data
- Guardian Mode is stated to be on by default for Minors in certain jurisdictions
- Brazilian residents are now listed as able to complain to their data protection authority
Evidence · 4 of 4 quotes matched in source
| Country/Region Data. Account identifiers, where you are located (as determined by your IP address and currently registered mobile number).+ inserted · ✓ matched in source
| Data Subject Request Information including the requestor’s email address, information to verify the user’s WeChat account+ inserted · ✓ matched in source
In certain jurisdictions, WeChat Guardian Mode function is activated by default for Minors and cannot be turned off until such Minors reach the age of an adult in such jurisdictions.+ inserted · ✓ matched in source
Archived version ↗ · 5,187 words changed