WhatsApp recently announced some changes to its privacy policy that have raised concerns among many users. The new policy will take effect on May 15, 2021. Here is an overview of the key changes and what they mean for users:
Sharing More Data with Facebook
WhatsApp will share more user data with Facebook and its family of companies. This includes:
- Phone number: WhatsApp will share users’ phone numbers with Facebook for ads and product experiences across Facebook companies. Previously this was limited to security and integrity purposes.
- Transaction data: If you use WhatsApp’s shopping features, your transaction data such as payment info and shipping details may be shared with Facebook to show you relevant offers.
- Device data: WhatsApp will share data about users’ devices such as operating system, hardware model, mobile network info, browser info, etc. This will help Facebook companies provide infrastructure, delivery, analytics and ads services.
- Location data: Businesses you interact with on WhatsApp may share your IP address and other info about your location with Facebook to offer personalized ads and other Facebook-company products.
In summary, much more metadata about WhatsApp users and their habits will be available to Facebook under the new policy. This has raised concerns about user privacy and data collection by Facebook.
Messaging Businesses on WhatsApp
The new policy also mentions changes when messaging businesses on WhatsApp:
- Businesses can store and manage their WhatsApp chats using Facebook’s hosting services. This means Facebook will have access to those chats.
- When chatting with businesses, remember they can see your phone number and transaction data. Facebook may use that info for ads, product suggestions, and analytics.
So when chatting with businesses on WhatsApp, users should keep in mind that Facebook may have access to some of that conversation data. Businesses will be able to see your phone number and transaction details as well.
No Changes for Personal Chats
WhatsApp emphasizes that the content of personal conversations remains protected by end-to-end encryption. Some key points about personal chats and groups:
- Neither WhatsApp nor Facebook can see your personal chats or listen to your calls.
- None of your contacts can see your messages or calls either.
- You can set your chats to disappear so they are automatically deleted after 24 hours or 90 days.
- Group admins can enable end-to-end encryption for groups too.
So the content of your personal conversations remains private under the new policy. However, more metadata will be shared with Facebook, which has still raised privacy concerns.
Usage Data Shared for Ranking and Recommendations
According to the new policy, WhatsApp will share more data about how you use its services. This includes:
- How long an account has been active.
- Frequency of how you interact with others.
- Use of features like groups and statuses.
This data will be used by Facebook for ranking purposes and recommendations. For example, Facebook may recommend more contacts or groups for you to interact with. Some users are concerned this data sharing is invasive despite WhatsApp’s stance that it will help improve the app.
Users Must Agree to New Terms or Lose Account Access
WhatsApp says users must agree to the new privacy policy if they want to keep accessing WhatsApp after May 15, 2021. Here are the stipulations around agreeing to the new policy:
- WhatsApp has been reminding users in-app about the new policy and asking them to agree to the updated terms.
- If users do not agree by the May 15 deadline, they will lose access to some WhatsApp features at first.
- After a few weeks of limited functionality, the users will no longer be able to receive incoming calls or notifications and WhatsApp will eventually stop sending messages and calls to their phones.
So users basically have to consent if they want to continue using WhatsApp normally beyond May 15th. Some are concerned this almost forces users to agree to data sharing with Facebook that they may not be comfortable with.
Should You Be Concerned?
Here are some key considerations about whether WhatsApp users should be concerned about the privacy policy update:
- There is definitely increased data sharing with Facebook – however WhatsApp maintains encryption protects personal conversations.
- Users uncomfortable with the changes may want to export chat history and switch to apps like Signal or Telegram.
- Businesses will need to be aware that Facebook may have access to certain transaction data.
- Users have little choice but to agree if they want to keep using WhatsApp as normal after May 15.
- While metadata and usage data is being shared more, personal conversations still seem reasonably protected.
Overall the increased data integration with Facebook is concerning from a user privacy standpoint. However, WhatsApp maintains that private conversations and calls remain end-to-end encrypted. Users uncomfortable with the changes do have encrypted alternative apps to switch to instead.
Comparison of WhatsApp vs Other Apps
How does WhatsApp compare to other messaging apps when it comes to privacy and security? Here is a table comparing some key features:
| App | End-to-End Encryption | Privacy Policy | Data Sharing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Sharing more data with Facebook | Increasing data integration with Facebook | |
| Signal | Yes | Minimal data collection | User data not sold or shared |
| Telegram | Optional | More metadata collection | Select user data shared with third parties |
| Facebook Messenger | No | Data used for ads and recommendations | Significant data sharing within Facebook |
As this table illustrates, WhatsApp is increasing data sharing with Facebook but still offers encrypted personal chats. Apps like Signal focus on minimal data collection and non-sharing with third parties. Telegram offers encryption but collects more metadata. Facebook Messenger integrates user data with Facebook but lacks end-to-end encryption.
Key Takeaways
- WhatsApp is sharing more user data like phone numbers, device info, transaction data, and usage stats with Facebook and its family of companies.
- Personal conversations remain end-to-end encrypted, so content stays private.
- Users have to agree to the new policy if they want to keep accessing WhatsApp after May 15th.
- Individuals uncomfortable with the changes can switch to apps like Signal or Telegram.
- Businesses should be aware that Facebook may access certain transaction data from WhatsApp.
Conclusion
WhatsApp’s new privacy policy expands data sharing with Facebook significantly. While personal chats have end-to-end encryption, metadata on usage, transactions, and more will be increasingly available to Facebook. Some users may find this level of data integration concerning. Alternative messaging apps like Signal and Telegram may better suit users who prioritize privacy and encryption. Nonetheless, WhatsApp maintains that private conversations will remain encrypted under the new policy. Users will have to consent to the updated terms if they want to keep using WhatsApp after May 15th.