WhatsApp starts sharing your information with Facebook

The moment that many predicted and that many others feared has arrived. WhatsApp and Facebook are closer than ever to each other, and user information will be shared between them , starting with telephone number Something that will make many rethink their relationship with their social networks and applications of messaging, although it may also imply the acceptance of something that has been expected since Facebook bought WhatsApp, the convergence of both tools.

The announcement comes directly from the official WhatsApp blog, where they want to take a “peek into the future” of this application. In a somewhat abstract publication, its managers announce the modification of the Terms of Service and the WhatsApp Privacy Policy by first once in four years All this pointing to the future of the application which, as has been known for some time, will have a commercial aspectto get income without falling into the introduction of , serving as a communication tool to receive trade notifications, place orders and other functionalities.

Although at first, in their publication, they focus on talking about how they have collected their latest developments in their new terms such as calls via WhatsApp or encryption from end to end of all your communications, there is a really important section regarding the privacy of the user, since it affects your own data.As exemplified by WhatsApp on its page, “once you accept our updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, we will share some information with Facebook and the Facebook family of companies, such as the phone number you verified when you signed up for WhatsApp, as well as the last time you used our service”.

Of course, they also clarify that "nothing you share on WhatsApp, including your messages, photos, and profile information, will be shared on Facebook or any of Facebook affiliate applications for others to see”. And remember that end-to-end encryption continues to work as usual, so all this content sent through chats continues to safekeeping, without WhatsApp, nor Facebook, nor espionage services, nor hackers can read or watch it.

The idea of ​​WhatsApp and Facebook is power“improve the user experience”. Thus, sharing the phone number and other information is You can make best friend suggestions on the social network, or submit announcements and relevant and importantfor the user. Issues that, on the other hand, will not calm the most jealous users of their privacy. And it is that the history of Facebook and the privacy of users has always been a tug of war in which many lose out.

How to avoid sharing this information with Facebook

Not all is lost, because WhatsApp offers its users the possibility of interrupting this exchange of information with the mother social network . There are two options for this:

The first arises before accepting the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy of WhatsAppHere it is possible to click on the highlighted option “Read” and access an option where you can deselect the function of sharing data with Facebook

The second option is available after accepting these new conditions. Of course, only during the first 30 days after notification of changes to the WhatsApp Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. After that it is possible to access Go to menu Settings of the application, enter section Account and deselect optionshare my account information.

Now, WhatsApp informs that “in any case, Facebook and the family of companies Facebook will receive and use this information for other purposes.This includes helping to improve infrastructure and delivery systems; understand how our Services or their Services are used; protect systems; and combat infringing activities, abuse or spam” So it seems that the decision is made and it is irrevocable