As per the new policy, WhatsApp will start sharing users’ phone numbers with its parent, allowing for, what the company claims, more relevant advertisements and friend recommendations on the social network. While accepting the new privacy policy, just uncheck that option where it says “share my data with Facebook”.
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Users have been given 30 days to change their preference and opt out of the data sharing between WhatsApp and Facebook. WhatsApp now share some data with its parent, including the telephone numbers of users, and will allow companies to send them messages.
One change follows through on previous hints by WhatsApp executives, who have said they’re exploring ways for businesses to communicate with customers on WhatsApp. In the blog post, they emphasised that information will not be sold to advertisers.
WhatsApp had made money by charging users a $1 annual fee after their first year.
Denham said ICO planned to “pull back the curtain” and ensure both Facebook and WhatsApp were providing users with the requisite transparency. The two companies said that this new policy will help you find friends easier, but it will also improve your Facebook ads and products experience.
Gaining something of value from WhatsApp is high on Facebook’s radar after it bought the chat platform for $22 billion in 2014. WhatsApp says it will continue to bar traditional display ads from its service.
“The key will be making sure users know what’s happening”.
A lot has happened in the past four years – two Olympics, for one thing, and a lot of hacks, disclosures and hair-raising privacy stories – but WhatsApp has remained unchanged. Instead, it means that Facebook will still have your WhatsApp account info, but won’t use it to target you with ads.
“Very few people opt out, it should be an informed opt in”, Chester said.
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“Even as we coordinate more with Facebook in the months ahead, your encrypted messages stay private and no-one else can read them”.
