The popular mobile application, WhatsApp, is updating its terms and conditions which will require users to share personal data with its parent company, Facebook.

  1. Will WhatsApp share personal chats with Facebook?

The answer is NO because the messages are end-to-end encrypted. Once the message is delivered, it gets deleted from WhatsApp’s server unless it’s a media file (pictures, videos, documents, links). This means that WhatsApp cannot read chats/messages and therefore will not be sharing it with Facebook.

  1. What information will be collected and shared with Facebook?

WhatsApp will share with the following information with Facebook:

  • Device details
  • IP Address
  • Diagnostics
  • Information on when a user registered on WhatsApp
  • WhatsApp features being used by a user (i.e. messages, status update, groups, broadcast lists, payments etc)
  • Log files (when a user logged in and out)
  • Interactions (how many times user A interacted with user B)

In short, WhatsApp will share everything other than your messages with Facebook.

  1. Does this mean WhatsApp will show 3rd party ads or any ads?

According to WhatsApp’s policy, no such thing will happen. If they ever do consider showing ads, they will update and mention this in their privacy policy.

These privacy policies will be effective from 8 February 2021, and any user who has not agreed to the new terms will no longer be able to use the WhatsApp messaging service.