AfterDawn: News

WhatsApp to share your number, data with Facebook unless you opt out

WhatsApp has updated its privacy policy for the first time in years and will share your phone number and other data with Facebook to offer more services.

WhatsApp had previously announced that it was seeking to find ways to make it possible for businesses to communicate with users. For example, it envisions a bank being able to contact a WhatsApp user through the service to inform them of a possibly fraudulent transaction or an airline notifying a user of a delayed flight.



In order to test out such additions to the service, WhatsApp has had to make the first change to its privacy policy since it was acquired by Facebook in 2014 for $19 billion.

The most notable change however is WhatsApp intention to connect your phone number to your Facebook account, which some users won't be thrilled about.

"By coordinating more with Facebook, we'll be able to do things like track basic metrics about how often people use our services and better fight spam on WhatsApp," a company blog post reads.

For now, however, it possible to opt out either on the new Terms and Conditions screen or within 30 days after accepting the new Terms and Conditions.

Once the Terms and Privacy Policy screen come up, you will note there is another option below the green "Agree" button that reads: "Read more about the key updates to our Terms and Privacy Policy." If you tap on this message, another screen will come up with the option to opt out of sharing your WhatsApp account information with Facebook.

If you already accepted the new Terms, you can still opt out for a period of time by going to Settings -> Account -> Share my Account Info. There is an option in here to opt out too if you uncheck the box.


Sources and Recommended Reading:
Looking ahead for WhatsApp: blog.whatsapp.com


Written by: James Delahunty @ 25 Aug 2016 14:08

• Previous article

• Driver playing Pokemon Go kills woman in accident

• Next article

• PlayStation Network adds 2 step verification

• 3 comments

• hearme0

  There is NO F*CKING INTEGRITY OR HONOR IN THIS!!!
  
  "Opting out" for something like this is tantamount to calling a company and getting automated prompts telling you to "push 1 for English and 9 for Spanish"............when it SHOULD BE "Press 9 for Spanish otherwise hold for someone". It's total B.S. and should be opposite than what's being presented or offered. Shouldn't have to "opt out" on this but rather "opt in". As for the calling companies scenario...THIS IS AMERICA; where the default language is English you MOFOS!
  
  If I could, I would F*CK the decision-maker on this one up in a dark alley!
  
  I don't care what privacy agreements those two have with one another or with each indiv entity/person out there.........NO F*CKING REASON for this.......PERIOD!
  
  
  Plz excuse my rant~

  25.8.2016 23:35 #1

• pmshah

  I must say we in India are a fortunate lot. I do buy mu train and air tickets on line, of course from a desktop PC only. Similarly I do make payment transaction on line too. In all these cases I have submitted my mobile phone number to the service providers. They do not need to use any social media account to keep me updated. IF absolutely any activity takes place on my account I almost immediately, like in 4-5 seconds, get confirmation on my phone by way of a text message. So there is almost zero chance of fraudulent activity happening on any of my accounts. This is true even for transactions as low as Rs. 100/- ( $ 1.30).

  26.8.2016 00:28 #2

• Menion

  You do realize this is FB Right? Remember Snowden's PRIZM Leak? Yeah he wasn't kidding about just how aggressive FB is getting your phone number and geographical data including photos and personal information, they won't stop.
  
  As for plane tickets if you buy From Travago, Expedia, kayak etc. keep in mind the same conglomerate owns all those companies and if you so much as give them a real cellular number when purchasing tickets you will forever be on an automated Telemarketing lists that will relentlessly call you. I would suggest handing out a fake phone number to anyone you have no reason for receiving a call from. If its that important they have your E-Mail.
  

  1.9.2016 19:07 #3