WhatsApp Privacy Policy Update: Here’s Everything You Should Know

WhatsApp Privacy Policy Update

A set of new WhatsApp Privacy Policy Update will release on 8 February 2021. A lot of going at the back end of the WhatsApp new Privacy Policy. Some users are against it, as the new policy is accessing all user’s data. But according to WhatsApp, it’s a way to know how the third-party-integration works with the application. Moreover, it includes access to Facebook. WhatsApp’s main objective is to personalize the targeted ads by accessing the data of the user.

Facebook has been introducing new features to sync WhatsApp and Instagram. You must have heard about the excellent sync feature of Facebook. Today or after some years, all Facebook services, including WhatsApp and Instagram, will have one identifier of user information. And it will provide you with a great synchronized experience.

What’s Behind This New WhatsApp Privacy Policy Update?

The updated privacy policy of WhatsApp works on the collected data of the users to enable multiple features. By using WhatsApp Pay, the company can have a passage to payment and transaction data. By default, WhatsApp has access to all your application usage, contact name, display picture of WhatsApp groups, and many more.

Check out the extract of the new WhatsApp privacy policy

“When the user access to our application, install, and utilize our services, we accumulate the user’s personal information or data. It involves information of hardware model, operating system, battery level, application version, browser data, mobile network information (contact number, ISP or mobile operator), signal strength, IP address, device operation information, language and time zone, identifiers (identities unique to Facebook products associate with your account).

Moreover, it also accesses your location and third-party integration. Even when you back up your chat data on Drive or iCloud, it goes under Google and Apple’s policies. You can say that WhatsApp is not accountable for your third-party integration.

Why is WhatsApp introducing new Privacy Policy Update?

There are two primary reasons behind the WhatsApp Privacy Policy update. According to the new policy, WhatsApp has to keep the user data within Europe for the European Union. And the second reason is – the iOS application demands WhatsApp to take permission before collecting the user data. However, Facebook Messenger is the one who is asking for a maximum number of permissions to access your data.

Hence, the privacy policy of WhatsApp is about the time when Facebook decided to explain the use of WhatsApp in the future. Under the new privacy policy rule, WhatsApp accesses the third-part integration of customers (including Facebook) and will show them ads accordingly.

WhatsApp and Facebook – Privacy?

Users are already in shock with the new WhatsApp Privacy Policy, and you must be wondering “why not to hand over all data for a messaging service? “It’s not all black. We all know that WhatsApp is one of the products of Facebook, and it needs data to better application functioning. Additionally, WhatsApp is offering a new level of integration and services to its users.

When you think about the policy keenly, you are already sharing the same information with different applications. So, you can accept the WhatsApp privacy policy to provide information in one place. Signal and WhatsApp’s significant difference is that WhatsApp uses user data or information to offer a personalized experience through ads.

Facebook is trying to normalize the data accumulation with the new privacy policy of WhatsApp, which otherwise happens at end-to-end encryption.

If you are comfortable sharing your data and personal information with WhatsApp to target ads, then accept it. And if you don’t want to share your data, WhatsApp is working on adding new features.

Can someone see my WhatsApp messages from another phone?

WhatsApp will not work if you use it on two different phones at the same time. But someone can access your WhatsApp by using WhatsApp web or registering your number on another device.

Is it legal to use WhatsApp for business?

Yes, it’s completely legal to use WhatsApp for business.

Can someone message me on WhatsApp if I delete their number?

Yes, you still receive messages if you delete their number. If you don’t want any message from a contact you can block them on WhatsApp.