WhatsApp to Share Users Data with Facebook

Facebook-owned messaging giant WhatsApp has made changes to its privacy policy which, once a user accepts its new terms and conditions, will see it start to share some of the user data with the users Facebook account, for ad-targeting purposes on the latter service.

It was stated that by coordinating more with Facebook, then it will be easy to do such things like tracking basic metrics about how often people use the over-the-internet services and also be able to easily fight spam on WhatsApp.

On the new terms and conditions, it is stated that the information will be shared with Facebook so as to improve the users Facebook ads and products experiences and these includes the users phone number that is used to verify the account and the last time when they used the service.

The  new policy will also allow WhatsApp to share user account information with other social apps such as Instagram, Atlas, Onavo, Parse, Moves, Oculus, LiveRail and Masquerade.

With the use of the app, globally ranked as the most used ahead of Facebook, other information collected include a user’s profile photo, status messages, and contact details. WhatsApp collects usage and log information, device and connection information, and cookies which are used to enhance user experience on WhatsApp Web and its desktop variant.

Under the WhatsApp terms, chats are deleted from the service’s servers once delivered, with undelivered ones being stored for a maximum 30 days. Only viral content being shared in high frequency stay on the firm’s servers longer.

Prior to the change in privacy policy, none of the information WhatsApp has access to was publicly displayed or shared with family apps. However, 30 days from now, users can still opt not to share their information with Facebook after which the option will no longer exist.

The change in policy is, however, in line with Facebook’s advertising business model. This has seen Facebook’s stock value continue to increase, aided by strong earnings and success in its mobile advertising business, which grew by 22 per cent this year. Facebook acquired WhatsApp in 2014 at Sh2 trillion in cash and stock.

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