Whatsapp is one of the biggest cross-platform messaging options available. The problem is, it’s owned by Facebook and very soon you have the not option but to share your details/ data with Facebook or leave. The updated privacy policy and terms of service come into effect on February the 8th.
While many users may simply hit the “agree” button — we all do it from time to time — it would be worth taking a look at what you’re agreeing to here. Specifically one of the items listed as a key update, referencing integration across Facebook company products. You are agreeing to share your information, contacts and some of your message content (media) with Facebook.
Of course, there are two sides to this coin. The integration across Facebook and Whatsapp means a simpler messaging and customer service system for companies who utilise these. Without delving deep into the privacy policies of both Facebook and Whatsapp, there’s no telling what other data they can incidentally collect. They disclose that they do collect and share:
- Personal information such as your name and phone number
- Your contacts and how (not specific message details) you interact with them
- Specific information about your mobile device such as IP address, MAC address and may include location data
- Paymen/transaction data
If I were a betting man, I’d predict a fairly rapid transition of many families, group and personal chats away from Whatsapp. If anyone’s looking for me, I’ll be on Telegram…
If you’re going to move IM apps for the sake of privacy, go straight to Signal rather than the Telegram. Telegram doesn’t default to E2E encryption (even WhatsApp is better there!), the protocol is closed source and the privacy practises ambiguous.