Over the past week or so, we’ve been talking a lot about people moving their messaging platform from WhatsApp to Signal due to a change in privacy policy. People were worried that WhatsApp was going to start leading data to its parent company Facebook.
There was subsequent clarification, but the damage was done.
But what information do these programs have about you? This seems like a great place to start when comparing services.
Also: Cyber Security 101: Protect Your Privacy from Hackers, Spies, and Government
And luckily, Apple has made it easier for us by requiring companies to publish their privacy policies and be clear about what they do with your data.
So let’s see what information we give on WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram. Let’s also take a look at Facebook for a little perspective.
Data linked to you – The following data can be collected and linked to your identity:
Advertising or marketing of developers
Identifiers
Usage data
Analysis
Purchases
Location
Contact details
User content
Identifiers
Usage data
- Product interaction
- Ad data
Diagnostics
- Crash data
- Performance data
- Other diagnostic data
Product customization
User content
App functionality
Purchases
Financial information
Location
Contact details
- Email address
- Telephone number
Contacts
User content
- Customer service
- Other user content
Identifiers
Usage data
Diagnostics
- Crash data
- Performance data
- Other diagnostic data
Other purposes
Contact details
Identifiers
Usage data
Sein
Data not linked to you: The following data, which may be collected but not linked to your identity, may be used for the following purposes:
App functionality
Contact details
Telegram
Data linked to you – The following data can be collected and linked to your identity:
App functionality
Contact details
Contacts
Identifiers
Data used to track you – The following data may be used to track you about programs and websites owned by other companies:
Other information
Contact details
- Physical address
- Email address
- Name
- Telephone number
Identifiers
Data linked to you – The following data can be collected and linked to your identity:
Third-party advertising
Purchases
Financial information
Location
- Exact location
- Rough location
Contact details
- Physical address
- Email address
- Name
- Telephone number
- Other user contact information
Contacts
User content
- Photos or videos
- Game content
- Other user content
Search History
Browse History
Identifiers
Usage data
- Product interaction
- Ad data
- Other usage data
Diagnostics
- Crash data
- Performance data
- Other diagnostic data
Other information
Advertising or marketing of developers
Purchases
Financial information
Location
- Exact location
- Rough location
Contact details
- Physical address
- Email address
- Name
- Telephone number
- Other user contact information
Contacts
User content
- Photos or videos
- Game content
- Other user content
Search History
Browse History
Identifiers
Usage data
- Product interaction
- Ad data
- Other usage data
Diagnostics
- Crash data
- Performance data
- Other diagnostic data
Other information
Analysis
Health and fitness
Purchases
Financial information
- Payment information
- Other financial information
Location
- Exact location
- Rough location
Contact details
- Physical address
- Email address
- Name
- Telephone number
- Other user contact information
Contacts
User content
- Photos or videos
- Audio data
- Game content
- Customer service
- Other user content
Search History
Browse History
Identifiers
Usage data
- Product interaction
- Ad data
- Other usage data
Sensitive information
Diagnostics
- Crash data
- Performance data
- Other diagnostic data
Other information
Product customization
Purchases
Financial information
Location
- Exact location
- Rough location
Contact details
- Physical address
- Email address
- Name
- Telephone number
- Other user contact information
Contacts
User content
- Photos or videos
- Game content
- Other user content
Search History
Browse History
Identifiers
Usage data
- Product interaction
- Ad data
- Other usage data
Sensitive information
Diagnostics
- Crash data
- Performance data
- Other diagnostic data
Other information
App functionality
Health and fitness
Purchases
Financial information
- Payment information
- Credit info
- Other financial information
Location
- Exact location
- Rough location
Contact details
- Physical address
- Email address
- Name
- Telephone number
- Other user contact information
Contacts
User content
- Email or text messages
- Photos or videos
- Audio data
- Game content
- Customer service
- Other user content
Search History
Browse History
Identifiers
Usage data
- Product interaction
- Ad data
- Other usage data
Sensitive information
Diagnostics
- Crash data
- Performance data
- Other diagnostic data
Other information
Other purposes
Purchases
Financial information
Location
- Exact location
- Rough location
Contact details
- Physical address
- Email address
- Name
- Telephone number
- Other user contact information
Contacts
User content
- Photos or videos
- Game content
- Customer service
- Other user content
Search History
Browse History
Identifiers
Usage data
- Product interaction
- Ad data
- Other usage data
Diagnostics
- Crash data
- Performance data
- Other diagnostic data
Other information