WhatsApp’s latest terms and 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 app’s updated terms of service and privacy policy. The notice provides an overview of the three most important updates, which deal with how WhatsApp processes user data, how businesses can use services offered by Facebook to store and manage their WhatsApp chat, and how WhatsApp will soon be using Facebook work together for deeper integrations in all the parent company’s products.
The changes that take effect on February 8, 2021 are mandatory and users will not be able to continue using WhatsApp unless they accept the terms.
The new terms and privacy policy appear to build on changes announced in July 2020, but this previous update offers users the option to withhold their WhatsApp account information to share with Facebook. The latest update disables this option.
Users who agree to the updated terms will identify their WhatsApp account registration and phone number, transaction data, service related information, interaction information, mobile device information, IP address and ‘other information’ … or obtained after notifying you or based on your consent, “shared with Facebook.
When we explain how Facebook will use this information, the policy stipulates that shared data is used to ‘understand how our services are used or’, to improve their services ‘,’ to make suggestions to you ‘,’ to personalize features and content, ‘and “showing relevant listings and advertisements in the Facebook company products.”
The updated terms help WhatsApp to integrate more closely into the family of Facebook products, as it provides a more cohesive experience to users in all services. While the changes are helping Facebook achieve its bigger goals, the high level of data exchange that WhatsApp users are now subject to can cause privacy issues.
Last month, WhatsApp publicly protested against Apple’s demand that developers provide information about the user data they collect for privacy labels in the App Store, saying it could give its messaging app a competitive edge.