WhatsApp recently updated its privacy policy, and one notable aspect of the policy involves information-sharing with “Facebook Companies”.
WhatsApp explains that “We may use the information we receive from them, and they may use the information we share with them, to help operate, provide, improve, understand, customize, support, and market our Services and their offerings.” Business Standard notes that users who receive the in-app notification have to accept the changes by February 8 or face account deletion.
The information that WhatsApp shares includes account registration details like your phone number, transaction data, mobile device information, and IP address. Other information include “service-related information” and “information on how you interact with others (including businesses) when using our Services”. However, messages will remain encrypted.
WhatsApp added that it may also share “other information identified in the Privacy Policy section entitled ‘Information We Collect’ or obtained upon notice to you or based on your consent". Information that falls under “Information We Collect” include automatically collected details like log information and the “precise” location information that you willingly share when using location-related features. “Information you provide” includes status information and numbers that WhatsApp accesses via the contact upload feature.
As for what WhatsApp receives from others, the information ranges from phone numbers and names to user reports and, if “in accordance with applicable law”, interactions with businesses that use WhatsApp. WhatsApp also said that it may receive information from third-parties or Facebook Company products in instances like using the WhatsApp share button or when an app store provides “reports to help us diagnose and fix service issues”.
You can check out the full privacy policy here.
