WhatsApp Users Must Now Share Personal Information with Facebook

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WhatsApp Users Must Now Share Personal Information with Facebook

According to new T&Cs, WhatsApp users ‘must’ agree to share their personal information with Facebook if they want to continue using the service from February. And unfortunately, users can’t opt-out (of it), unless they quit the service.

“As part of the Facebook Companies, WhatsApp receives information from, and shares information with, the other Facebook Companies. 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, including the Facebook Company Products.

The information we share with the other Facebook Companies. includes your account registration information (such as your phone number), transaction data, service-related information, information on how you interact with others (including businesses) when using our Services, mobile device information, your IP address, and may include other information identified in the Privacy Policy section entitled ‘Information We Collect’ or obtained upon notice to you or based on your consent.”

A WhatsApp spokesman did not clarify why the platform decided to make the change but said it would not affect EU- and UK-based users.

“There are no changes to WhatsApp’s data sharing practices in the European region (including UK) arising from the updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. For the avoidance of any doubt, it is still the case that WhatsApp does not share European region WhatsApp user data with Facebook for the purpose of Facebook using this data to improve its products or advertisements,” the spokesman said.

Facebook bought WhatsApp in 2014, and in 2016 it gave users a one-time chance to opt out of sharing app data with Facebook.

The changes above changes are expected to take effect from February 8th.

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