WhatsApp recently announced an update to its privacy policy that has raised concerns among many users. The update requires users to share certain data with Facebook, which owns WhatsApp. This has led some users to look for alternative messaging apps out of fear that their personal information is at risk. But what is the truth about the new WhatsApp policy? Let’s take a closer look.
What data does WhatsApp collect?
WhatsApp collects very little data from its users. When you register for WhatsApp, you provide your mobile phone number, which is required to create your account. WhatsApp does not require or collect any other personal information from you.
Once you start using WhatsApp, the app collects some usage data, including the time and date you use WhatsApp, your status, when you last used the app, and your IP address. This allows WhatsApp to operate, provide its services, and improve the performance of the app.
Your messages, contacts, photos, videos, voice messages, documents or any other data you share via WhatsApp are not accessed by WhatsApp or Facebook. All this data stays encrypted and cannot be read by anyone outside of the sender and receiver.
So in summary, WhatsApp collects very minimal user data – just your phone number to create your account, and some technical usage data to operate and improve their service.
What does the new policy change?
The main change is that businesses will now be able to use Facebook’s infrastructure to provide customer service on WhatsApp. So when you message a business on WhatsApp, that business can choose to have your messages routed to their Facebook services for storage and managing.
This allows businesses to use Facebook tools to manage a large volume of WhatsApp messages from customers. Previously, businesses had limited infrastructure to handle customer messages at scale on WhatsApp.
However, nothing changes for your private, personal conversations, which remain end-to-end encrypted. The new policy only relates to how businesses can optionally manage their communications on WhatsApp.
Will my WhatsApp data be shared with Facebook?
No, your private WhatsApp data will not be shared with Facebook under the new policy. WhatsApp cannot see your private messages or hear your calls.
The only data that can be accessed by Facebook is very limited – your phone number if you have one linked to your Facebook account, and any data you choose to share with businesses on WhatsApp.
Some technical usage data may also be shared to improve infrastructure, such as understanding how WhatsApp services are used across Facebook’s platforms. But your personal conversations remain private.
Can I choose not to share my data with Facebook?
Yes, you have the option to not share your WhatsApp account information with Facebook. Here are the steps:
- Open WhatsApp Settings
- Tap Account > Privacy
- Turn off ‘Share my WhatsApp account info with Facebook’
This will prevent your WhatsApp activity and account information from being shared with Facebook. But remember, your personal conversations are never shared with Facebook or WhatsApp. This setting only relates to account-level data.
You can also control your user data and activity information shared from Facebook’s other products like Instagram and Facebook.com in your Facebook app and account settings.
Are my WhatsApp messages still encrypted?
Yes, WhatsApp messages and calls remain protected by end-to-end encryption. This has not changed with the new policy.
End-to-end encryption means only you and the person you are communicating with can read or listen to your conversations. Not even WhatsApp or Facebook can access your private messages.
Some key facts about WhatsApp encryption:
- Messages are secured with locks, and only you and the recipient have the keys to unlock them
- No third parties can see your private conversations, not even WhatsApp
- All your messages are encrypted by default, you don’t need to turn on any settings
- WhatsApp cannot decrypt your messages under any circumstances
So in summary, end-to-end encryption remains intact on WhatsApp to protect your private data.
Should I be concerned about my privacy on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp has assured users that the core messaging experience will remain unchanged and private under the new policy. However, users should evaluate based on their own privacy preferences.
Here are some key considerations:
- If you primarily use WhatsApp for personal chats with family & friends, your data remains very secure.
- If you use WhatsApp for business purposes, your data could be stored on Facebook servers if the business enables it.
- Make sure to review the privacy settings for linking your Facebook and WhatsApp accounts.
- For maximum privacy, consider using an app like Signal which collects even less technical user data.
- Evaluate whether the convenience of WhatsApp outweighs potential business data sharing for your usage.
In summary – private messages are still very secure, but business communications on WhatsApp may share limited data with Facebook under the new policy. Users uncomfortable with that can opt for apps like Signal.
Should I delete my WhatsApp account?
There is no need to delete your WhatsApp account based on the new policy changes. Here are some considerations:
- Your personal conversations remain end-to-end encrypted and private.
- Your account information like your name, profile photo, status etc. is already accessible on Facebook if you have linked accounts.
- Deleting WhatsApp means losing convenient access to contacts, groups, and features you may rely on.
- You can selectively limit some data sharing with Facebook in your WhatsApp privacy settings.
In most cases, the advantages of keeping WhatsApp outweigh the need to delete. But users can choose to stop using WhatsApp if unhappy with the changes. Your account data will be deleted within 90 days of disabling your account.
In summary – deleting your account has limited privacy benefits compared to changing your sharing settings or just not using certain features.
What are the alternatives to WhatsApp?
Here are some top alternative encrypted messaging apps to consider:
| App | Encryption | Other Features |
|---|---|---|
| Signal | End-to-end encryption | Minimal metadata collection |
| Telegram | Optional end-to-end encryption | Large file sharing |
| Wire | End-to-end encrypted | Clean interface |
| Wickr | End-to-end encryption | Self-destructing messages |
| Threema | End-to-end encryption | Groups, video calls, file sharing |
Key things to evaluate are privacy policies, encryption methods, contacts discovery, message lifespans, support availability, and extra features.
Based on your priorities – apps like Signal provide maximum privacy while Telegram offers more features but less secure encryption.
Conclusion
The new WhatsApp policy raises some valid user privacy concerns, especially for business communications. However, WhatsApp’s core messaging experience remains very secure and private. Users do not need to panic or delete their accounts.
Review your privacy settings, be selective in interacting with businesses, and consider alternative apps if you feel strongly. But end-to-end encryption still protects your personal chats on WhatsApp from any external access.
Evaluate your own priorities and usage patterns to determine if the convenience of WhatsApp outweighs the marginal data sharing. For most individuals, WhatsApp likely still provides adequate privacy protections in balance with usability.