The latest terms and WhatsApp privacy policy allow the popular messaging app to share a significant amount of user data with Facebook (via XDA developers).
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WhatsApp users today receive an in-app notification informing them of the updated terms of service and the app’s privacy policy. The notification provides an overview of the top three updates, covering how WhatsApp processes user data, how companies can use Facebook-hosted services to store and manage their WhatsApp chats, and how WhatsApp will soon collaborate with Facebook to provide deeper integration into all parent company products.
The changes, which are due to take effect on February 8, 2021, are mandatory and users will not be able to continue using WhatsApp unless they agree to the terms.
The new terms and privacy policy appear to be based on the changes announced in July 2020, however, this previous update gave users the option to prevent WhatsApp account information from being shared on Facebook. The latest update removes this option.
Users who agree to the updated terms will have WhatsApp account registration and phone number, transaction data, service information, interaction information, mobile device information, IP address and “other information identified … or obtained upon your notification.” or based on your consent “, shared with Facebook.
When explaining how Facebook will use this information, the policy states that shared data is used to “understand how our or their services are used,” “improve their services,” “suggestions for you,” “customize features. and content ”and“ display relevant offers and announcements on Facebook products ”.
The updated terms help WhatsApp to integrate more closely into the Facebook product family, as it aims to provide users with a more consistent experience across all services. While the changes help Facebook achieve its larger goals, the high level of data sharing that WhatsApp users will now be subjected to can raise privacy issues.
Last month, WhatsApp publicly protested Apple’s request that developers send information about user data it collects for privacy tags in the App Store, saying it could give its messaging app a competitive disadvantage.