This is all the data WhatsApp collects on you and shares with Facebook

It was long expected that Facebook’s $16 billion investment in WhatsApp would lead to a monetization strategy. Judging by the latest WhatsApp privacy policy controversy, it looks like we’re finally headed in that direction.

Read more: What is WhatsApp? The ultimate guide to getting started

WhatsApp announced changes to its privacy policy in January 2021 which ignited a data security and privacy conversation. While the policy rollout was initially delayed to May 15, 2021, the company recently announced that the implementation will be staggered. Fresh sign-ups and anyone who has already accepted the policy will now share limited data with Facebook. Meanwhile, older users are no longer being given an option to defer the policy.

Related: How to update your Facebook privacy settings

At the time of the initial announcement, WhatsApp took to Twitter to debunk rumors and clarify exactly what was being shared with Facebook. In India, where WhatsApp has over 340 million users, the app took to front-page newspaper advertisements to explain exactly what data is being shared.

Which brings us to the question, exactly what data is being shared between WhatsApp and Facebook under the former’s new policy? Moreover, is there anything to be concerned about for the average Joe? Let’s take a look at the state of WhatsApp privacy and what data it collects on its users.

Also read: What is encryption? Here’s everything you need to know

How to customize WhatsApp privacy settings

WhatsApp gives you a lot of control over who can see your status messages, profile photos, and even your online status. Here’s how you can customize these settings to your preference.

Tap the three dots button in the right-hand corner and select Settings from the drop-down menu. From here, head to the Account > Privacy page. You can now tap any of the options here, including your online ‘last seen’ status, and select between three options allowing you to choose between everyone, nobody, and just your contact list. You can also toggle read receipts from this page if you want to hide your online status. The full list of options that can be customized includes:

• Last seen status
• Profile photo
• About page
• Status message
• Read receipts
• Disappearing messages
• Group invitations
• Live location
• Blocked contacts
• Fingerprint lock

If you want an extra degree of security, WhatsApp also offers disappearing messages. These messages can be toggled to automatically delete anywhere from 24 hours to seven days or as long as 90 days. Disappearing messages ensure that all track of a conversation is automatically removed after a reasonable period of time.

Finally, you can also set a fingerprint lock from this page.

What data does WhatsApp collect on you and share with Facebook?

WhatsApp has come out and cleared the air around its updated privacy policy. The policy, which was originally intended to come into effect starting February 8, 2021, before a three-month delay was announced, applies only to business communication. The changes apply only if you opt to communicate with a business that integrates with WhatsApp.

Here is all the data that will now be shared when communicating with any of the 50 million business accounts on the platform:

• Phone number
• Device ID
• Location
• Transaction data
• Product interaction
• User identifiers

Presumably, most of this information will be used for better ad targeting. By parsing your transaction data and your location, Facebook can optimize advertisements for your interests. We’ve already seen this happen between Facebook and Instagram.

Now, with WhatsApp, the company should have even more granular data on one-to-one communication between you and a business. As an end-user, you should expect to see better advertisements across Facebook’s social platforms. The shared data will also allow a business to send you payment confirmations and transaction data over the messaging platform.

These data-sharing policies only apply to businesses that opt to use Facebook’s business hosting solutions. The company claims that conversations with such businesses will be clearly marked out with a label.

What data won’t be collected by WhatsApp?

Contrary to rumors, WhatsApp is not snooping on your private conversations. Your private one-to-one chats and, for that matter, even group chats are all end-to-end encrypted. WhatsApp cannot look into this data, nor is it shared with Facebook. This won’t change when the updated privacy policy comes into effect. WhatsApp does not have access to any of the following data identifiers:

• Private chats
• Private phone calls
• Message or call logs
• Contact information
• Shared location
• WhatsApp group information

The updated privacy policy makes it clear that changes to data sharing with Facebook only apply to business communications. WhatsApp further addressed its updated privacy policy and what is and isn’t shared in a blog post which you can read here.

Can I opt-out of the WhatsApp privacy policy?

As of today, most users cannot opt out of WhatsApp’s updated privacy policy. While WhatsApp initially allowed users in the European Union or the UK to defer the policy further, that is no longer the case.

Related: Signal: What is it and why is everyone talking about it?

That said, there is no change to policies around private communication. None of the changes apply to users unless they use the app for chatting with a business entity.

What do you think about the updated WhatsApp privacy policy?

There’s no denying the fact that WhatsApp is deeply ingrained into everyday conversations in major markets like Europe and India. In fact, India alone contributes 340 million users to WhatsApp’s global two billion user base. However, will the updated policy be the straw that breaks the camel’s back? Are you looking at switching over to more secure, privacy-focused platforms? Let us know below.