WhatsApp Publishes FAQ On Its Data Sharing With Facebook

As many of you might have heard by now, WhatsApp is expected to begin sharing data with Facebook starting next month. Prior to this, WhatsApp had given users the option to opt out, but now it seems like it’s either you agree to WhatsApp’s new privacy policy, or you find yourself another app to use.

That being said, given the legalese behind the privacy policy, some might not fully understand what’s being shared, and worse, there have been rumors and also misleading information making their rounds, so much so that WhatsApp has since published an FAQ in which they debunk the rumors and clearly lay out what’s going to change.

Basically, WhatsApp wants to reassure users that data like their messages, who you chat with, and who you call using its app will not be shared with Facebook. Your contacts are also safe, along with other privacy-related information like your location. Instead, the company says that the changes to their privacy policy are more focused towards communications businesses who use WhatsApp to communicate with customers.

WhatsApp claims that this will help businesses better answer questions that potential customers might have, send helpful information like purchase receipts, and also to help personalize your shopping experience. That data can also be used for personalized ads that companies might want to take out.

If you don’t use WhatsApp to communicate with businesses, then these changes shouldn’t affect you, or at least that’s what the company seems to imply. More detailed information can be found on WhatsApp’s website.

Tyler Lee
Categories: General
Tags: Android, Apps, Facebook, iOS, Privacy, Whatsapp