WhatsApp sharing information with Facebook
Surprise, surpriseRemember when Facebook bought WhatsApp back in 2014, and one of WhatsApp's founders, Jan Koum, went on a tear about how the app's users' privacy wouldn't be invaded and your personal information wouldn't be shared with Facebook?Remember how you totally bought that and thought to yourself, "I strongly believe that WhatsApp will maintain their integrity throughout this process"?Yeah, me neither.
You can stop WhatsApp from sharing your phone number with Facebook
Hyper-popular messaging app WhatsApp announced yesterday that it would start sharing some user data — including your phone number — with parent company Facebook.The two companies say the new policy will help you find friends and "improve your Facebook ads and products experiences," but it will also give businesses a new avenue to reach potential customers, with WhatsApp describing situations where banks and airlines will use your phone number to get in touch about fraudulent payments or delayed flights.WhatsApp has promised that it won't sell or share that number with advertisers, but if you still balk at the idea of putting your phone number where a legion of hungry brands could potentially see it, you're in luck — you've still got a chance to stop WhatsApp from handing Facebook this new data if you act fast.
WhatsApp isn't sharing your info only with Facebook, and you can't opt out
You should be aware that WhatsApp's recent announcement on sharing your information with Facebook does not involve your data being shared only with Facebook.In fact, the data will be shared across Facebook's entire family, which involves companies such as Atlas, Instagram, Onavo, Parse, Moves, Oculus, LiveRail, and Masquerade.The data will be shared 'for other purposes such as improving infrastructure and delivery systems, understanding how our services or theirs are used, securing systems, and fighting spam, abuse, or infringement activities,' terms WhatsApp.
WhatsApp sharing data with Facebook
The introduction of WhatsApp has truly dominated the social media app, creating a sensational instant messaging app for everyone.Since its inception in 2010, instinctively-designed messaging application has blown up in popularity and in 2014 February, Facebook acquired WhatsApp for $ 19 billion.But greater power accompanies higher obligation.
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