WhatsApp recently updated its Privacy Policy and Terms of Service to mandate data-sharing with all companies in the Facebook family. With some of the rumours going around, Whatsapp has answered some of the common questions they have received.
“We want to be clear that the policy update does not affect the privacy of your messages with friends or family in any way. Instead, this update includes changes related to messaging a business on WhatsApp, which is optional, and provides further transparency about how we collect and use data.“
A new infographic shared by the company highlights that WhatsApp cannot see private messages or hear calls and, therefore, neither can Facebook.
It also reveals that WhatsApp doesn’t keep logs of who users are messaging or calling, it can’t see the shared location, doesn’t share contact info with Facebook, and that WhatsApp groups remain private.
As far as conversations with businesses are concerned, WhatsApp clarified that some businesses on the platform will make use of Facebook’s hosting services to manage WhatsApp chats. Such businesses will be able to use the information for their own marketing purposes, like running targeted ads on Facebook.
To ensure users know when they’re communicating with such a business, WhatsApp will clearly label the conversation in the app. The company further adds that it will utilize users’ shopping activity to personalize their Shops experience, and if users interact with an ad on the platform, Facebook may “use the way you interact with these ads to personalize the ads you see on Facebook.”
