What information does WhatsApp collect from its users?
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WhatsApp has been battling to answer concerns voiced by millions of users across the globe after its latest update to the terms of its service, in which it stated that it reserves the right to share data it collects about users with the broader Facebook network, which includes Instagram.
Although WhatsApp has since said it is pushing back the mandatory date for users to accept the new terms of service, one question that comes to mind is what information exactly does WhatsApp collect from its users to share with Facebook companies.
The petition claims that WhatsApp’s updated privacy policy, which was made known on January 4 this year, essentially takes away the choice users had till now to not share their data with other Facebook-owned and third-party apps. WhatsApp had made it mandatory for its users to accept the new policy by February 8 or else the services and accounts of the respective users would be terminated.
The petitioner fears that the new regime will integrate Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram to give a 360-degree profile into a person s online activity, with a high level of insight into a person s private and personal activities without any government oversight and in the absence of a data protection authority.
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WhatsApp has found itself in dire straits over the new privacy policy changes that were pushed on the morning of January 6. WhatsApp s users around the world received a notification of an update to the popular messaging app’s privacy policy, how it processes user data and how it partners with Facebook to better integrate with the larger Facebook Company Products that include Messenger, Instagram, Facebook Shops and more.