There have been concerns amongst people on rumours of Whatsapp’s new privacy policy where users are being forced to share personal data with Facebook. Users are worried they will be forced to share phone numbers and locations too and many wondered what happened to encrypted messages policy that Whastapp promises.
What exactly did people hear?
The announcement was sent by the social messaging app asked users to agree to allow Facebook and subsidiaries to collect Whatsapp data including users’ phone numbers, contacts’ phone numbers, locations amongst other data. Also that if users did not agree to this new policy by February 8th, they would lose all access.
What is presently happening with Whatsapp user data?
Data exchange with Facebook is already taking place as per the old policy of Whatsapp. Unlike in the European Union where users can opt out of data sharing with Facebook, other users across the globe have to comply with the mandatory data sharing.
WhatsApp shares:
- Account registration information which is primarily the phone number
- Transaction data as WhatsApp payment method is operational in India
- Service-related information
- Information on user interaction with others which includes businesses
- Mobile device information
- IP address
Whatsapp says it does not store messages once they are delivered from one user to another. Only in cases where messages are undelivered, the messages are stored in their system for 30 days in an encrypted form. If the attempt to deliver it is unsuccessful, the message is deleted from the system.
As far as data shares with businesses associated or integrated with Whatsapp, the policy states, “Businesses might be working with third-party service providers (which may include Facebook) to help manage their communications with their customers”.
Reading the “Business’ privacy policy or contact the business directly” section of the Whatsapp policy will give users a better insight of their current businesses sharing policy.
What does Whatsapp say in it’s defence about the new norms?
Whatsapp however clarifies that the change allows businesses to store Whatsapp chats using Facebook infrastructure.
Head of Whatsapp Will Cathcart clarified on twitter reiterating the privacy of users’ Whatsapp chats. “I want to share how committed everyone @WhatsApp is to providing private communication for two billion people around the world. At our core, that’s the ability to message or call loved ones freely protected by end-to-end encryption and that’s not changing.”
I want to share how committed everyone @WhatsApp is to providing private communication for two billion people around the world. At our core, that’s the ability to message or call loved ones freely protected by end-to-end encryption and that’s not changing.
— Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) January 8, 2021
The good news is, personal chats are not compromised says Cathcart. “With end-to-end encryption, we cannot see your private chats or calls and neither can Facebook. We’re committed to this technology and committed to defending it globally. You can read more here: https://whatsapp.com/security/”
With end-to-end encryption, we cannot see your private chats or calls and neither can Facebook. We’re committed to this technology and committed to defending it globally. You can read more here: https://t.co/YpR5RaGoW1
— Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) January 8, 2021
We’ve updated our policy to be transparent and to better describe optional people-to-business features. We wrote about it in October — this includes commerce on WhatsApp and the ability for people to message a business. Pls see: https://t.co/wGJkVUhmhE
— Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) January 8, 2021
It's important for us to be clear this update describes business communication and does not change WhatsApp’s data sharing practices with Facebook. It does not impact how people communicate privately with friends or family wherever they are in the world.
— Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) January 8, 2021
Not everyone may realize how common it is to WhatsApp message businesses in many countries. In fact, about 175 million people message a business account each day on WhatsApp and more want to do so.
— Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) January 8, 2021
Also businesses want tools to quickly and effectively respond to those messages. It’s too hard today and features like Shops and Pay can help people buy things they want from businesses on WhatsApp.
— Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) January 8, 2021
We’re in a competition on privacy with others and that’s very good for the world. People should have choices in how they communicate and feel confident that no one else can see their chats. There are people who disagree with this, including some governments.
— Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) January 8, 2021
We’re proud of the service we offer, and we’ll continue to develop technology and practices to provide private, secure communications for as many people as we can.
— Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) January 8, 2021
That’s why we are so committed to end-to-end encryption, and why we keep improving the privacy of WhatsApp, such as with our launch of disappearing messages in November. Our innovation on privacy will continue.
— Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) January 8, 2021