WhatsApp plans to share its users’ phone numbers with Facebook, the first time the messaging app has allowed the two services to connect data since Facebook bought it two years ago.
The messaging app’s new privacy policy, published on Thursday, gives it permission to connect Facebook accounts to WhatsApp accounts for the first time. This will give Facebook more data about users, allowing the social network to suggest phone contacts as friends, but may spark privacy concerns.
While the contents of WhatsApp messages such as words and images are end-to-end encrypted, meaning that the app cannot read them, it does have data including phone numbers and information about users’ phones and operating systems.
Many Facebook users already share their phone number and address book with the app, but some choose not to, saying they want to keep their number – which many work colleagues may have – separate from their personal life on Facebook.
Facebook said it would not reveal phone numbers by displaying them on Facebook profiles, but would use the data to improve its friend suggestion algorithm. Agreeing to the policy means users who have your phone number saved in their phone may begin to start seeing your profile pop up in friend suggestions, since Facebook will now be able to link your phone number with your account. Users will, however, be able to opt out of sharing their details with Facebook.
The changes will also help Facebook fight spam accounts and better understand how people use the apps. WhatsApp users, who will receive an alert asking them to agree to the policy, will have to approve it in the next 30 days to continue using the app.
“By coordinating more with Facebook, we’ll be able to do things like track basic metrics about how often people use our services and better fight spam on WhatsApp. And by connecting your phone number with Facebook’s systems, Facebook can offer better friend suggestions and show you more relevant ads if you have an account with them,” WhatsApp said.
“We won’t post or share your WhatsApp number with others, including on Facebook, and we still won’t sell, share, or give your phone number to advertisers.”
The new policy is likely to be the biggest test of WhatsApp’s promise to protect users’ privacy since it was bought by Facebook for $19 billion (£14 billion) in 2014.
To date, the messaging app’s four-year-old privacy policy has prevented it from connecting accounts and when it was sold, WhatsApp founder Jan Koum pledged it would “remain autonomous and operate independently” and denied claims that becoming part of Facebook would compromise privacy.
WhatsApp said the new policy also reflects features of the app introduced since the terms were last updated, including its WhatsApp web service, calls and end-to-end encryption.
It will also pave the way for business accounts on WhatsApp. The appwants to become a portal for customer service, allowing airlines to contact users about delayed flights or banks to warn them about fraudulent transactions, but the current privacy policy prevents this.
WhatsApp, which dropped its annual subscription fee earlier this year and said it would begin to explore new revenue possibilities, plans to begin testing business accounts in the coming months.
“Our belief in the value of private communications is unshakable, and we remain committed to giving you the fastest, simplest, and most reliable experience on WhatsApp,” it said.
How to stop Facebook from getting your WhatsApp data
For now there is a way to opt out of WhatsApp and Facebook’s information sharing – but you’ll need to do it soon.
The first option to opt out is given when WhatsApp asks you to agree to its updated terms and conditions. Instead of tapping Agree selected “Read more about the key updates to our Terms and Privacy Policy”.
In here there is a checkbox next to “Share my account info” that refers to the controversial new information sharing between WhatsApp and Facebook. Uncheck this box to remove the permission to do so.
If you have already accepted the new terms without deselecting this box you have 30 days to revoke the permission. In the app go to Settings -> Account -> Share my account info and uncheck the box.
WhatsApp has not sent the updated permissions request to all of its users yet. If you have not been asked to approve the terms then you are currently not affected by the changes.
