Whatsapp to share users phone numbers and other details with Facebook after policy change

WhatsApp is making a modification to their user terms and privacy policy for the first time in four years. A time spanning two years before and two years after they were acquired by Facebook in 2014. This new modification will allow WhatsApp to share certain data with Facebook,  your phone number included.

According to WhatsApp, this will help Facebook bring adverts that are much more suited to the individual’s lifestyle. WhatsApp further states that it will help them protect users against spamming and make better friend suggestions on Facebook. 

For those who may be skeptical about this. It will be soothing to know that WhatsApp went on to reiterate that they are still committed to their “no data sharing policy with marketers”. Furthermore, you have the option to allow this data collection or refuse it by selecting or unselecting the share data option, which should come up while you are making use of the app. Based on my own experience, the policy message comes up while your are using the app and you can select to or select not to have your data shared.

For most tech pundits, this modification has been more of when will happen than will it ever happen. WhatsApp has been a free messaging service for a quite some time since their big money buy-out by Facebook. It is only natural that the social media mogul uses the messaging platform to advance their business and in so doing get a return on investment (ROI).

WhatsApp’s official post announcing the policy hints at more integration of functions already implemented on Facebook’s messenger. Whatsapp looks facilitate communication between you and people as well as companies that matter to you. “Whether it’s hearing from your bank about a potentially fraudulent transaction, or getting notified by an airline about a delayed flight, many of us get this information elsewhere, including in text messages and phone calls. We want to test these features in the next several months, but need to update our terms and privacy policy to do so.”

That’s all we can take on the new policy modification. If you want to read through the announcement post and also go through the FAQ post, click on this link.

So what are you thoughts about this new policy? Keeping in mind WhatsApp says it for better communication. Are you are a WhatsApp user? Can this affect how you see the messaging service? Share your thoughts in the comment section below