It has been revealed that instant messaging service WhatsApp would begin sharing user’s account information with its parent company Facebook, indicating a significant shift in its ‘strict’ privacy stance.
After being acquired by Facebook in 2014 for 19 billion dollars, the founder Jan Koum promised to uphold privacy of its users, suggesting that the deal would have no effects on its privacy stand.
It should be noted that the move is the first change in WhatsApp policy in four years, allowing the social networking giant to feed more relevant ads and give better friend suggestions on its website.
Improving experience
In its blog, WhatsApp said: “Today, we’re updating WhatsApp’s terms and privacy policy for the first time in four years, as part of our plans to test ways for people to communicate with businesses in the months ahead.”
While the new move to share contact details with Facebook is strictly against WhatsApp’s policy, it has assured users that it would not sell, share, or give users’ phone number to advertisers.
“We won’t post or share your WhatsApp number with others, including on Facebook, and we still won't sell, share, or give your phone number to advertisers,” the blog added.
Users also don’t have to worry about encryption issues, as it maintained that its encryption policy remains unchanged and would not allow any advertisements from third party subscribers.
Targeted ads on WhatsApp
As per the blog, WhatsApp mentioned that it will be sharing targeted ads on the instant messaging platform but nothing that disinterests a user.
The new policy would allow businesses to communicate with users on the platform, including information on orders, transactions, delivery and shipping notifications, product and service updates, and marketing.
According to AP, the ads would come through Facebook program called ‘Custom Audiences’, letting a business upload lists of customers and phone numbers or other contact information it has collected from warranty cards or other sources. Facebook subsequently matches the list to the users with the same information to show relevant ads.
But WhatsApp also made it clear that users would also have the option to mange the communications. “We do not want you to have a spammy experience; as with all of your messages, you can manage these communications, and we will honour the choices you make.”
Not mandatory
Under the new policy, WhatsApp aims to increase coordination and improve user experiences such as fight spam and abuse, offer better suggestions, and ads.
But someone is unwilling to share WhatsApp data with Facebook, the individual has been given an option to opt out of it. Users can either opt out of it while agreeing to the new terms and services or they can choose to do it in the next 30 days.
“After you agree to our updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, you will have an additional 30 days to make this choice by going to Settings > Account > Share my account info in the app,” said the blog.
