Today when we all woke up, we were greeted by a random full-screen notification on our beloved texting app, WhatsApp, which stated ¡®WhatsApp is updating its terms and privacy policy¡¯.?
While most of us ignored the changes and hit ¡®Agree¡¯ to see or send good morning messages in your family group, some got skeptical on this change. In case you were one of the many who were curious what these changes mean, you¡¯ve come to the right place.?
This change in policy and terms of service is to better fuse the integration between WhatsApp and Facebook¡¯s other services like Messenger, Instagram and the Facebook App of course.?
WhatsApp has included a bunch of new features in the past year and this update only highlights how it plans to collect data when those features are used, features like transactions and payments made using WhatsApp¡¯s newly unveiled UPI service, as well as location information that would provide further information that will aid the collection of data.
The app has also added information specific to conversations with Business accounts taken through the texting app.
As mentioned earlier, another set of major changes in the privacy policy and terms of service is pertaining to the sharing of data with other Facebook assets.?
As per WhatsApp¡¯s notice, the messaging app has revealed that it will be sharing details such as account registration number (basically your mobile number), transaction data, service-related information, data on how you interact with other users as well as businesses while using WhatsApp services, information about the device the app is installed on, device¡¯s IP address.?
The WhatsApp notice also states that it ¡°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.¡±
The astonishing part here is that before this update, users had the ability to not allow WhatsApp from sharing account info with Facebook, but with the new policies that go into effect starting February 8th, this will no longer be the case.??
It¡¯s definitely alarming seeing the sheer amount of data WhatsApp plans on collecting and sharing with its parent company. And we already know what Facebook does with our data. Sadly, if you disagree with the new policies you will no longer be permitted to use WhatsApp.?
As they say, nothing is free in this world, and if an app is really free, you¡¯re not the user of the app, you¡¯re the product.