This is all the information that Facebook will collect from your WhatsApp account

The latest changes to WhatsApp are offering more headaches to their users than new features. And it is that the messaging application has updated its Terms of Service and Privacy Policy after four years of immobility to ensure that the account data ofWhatsApp can be seen and studied by Facebook A social network that has always been in conflict with users for privacy reasons.Now the purchase of WhatsApp makes more sense than ever by being able to collect the usage data of more than a billion people around the world. But what exactly are they going to see? Are our conversations safe? Read on if you're interested.

There is a way to prevent WhatsApp from sharing some data with Facebook Your own WhatsApp explains in his blog how to do it both if the new terms have been accepted and before doing so. The problem is that, as WhatsApp herself comments, “Either way, Facebook and the Facebook family of companies will receive and they will 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 activity, abuse or spam”Thus, it is of little use to uncheck the option that allows Facebook to take over this data from WhatsApp, since one way or another they will end up knowing each step and user interaction.

This is the information that WhatsApp collects from the user and that, due to its new conditions, can be seen and used by Facebook:

• Facebook will now know the telephone number of the user and the contacts of the user who They are already on WhatsApp The novelty is that it will also collect the rest of the agenda, obtaining the phone numbers of other people who do not necessarily use this messaging application.

• Of course, the rest of the information of the WhatsApp account such as the photo of profile or status phrase is also data collected by the messaging application that Facebook may have access to.In the same way they will know the groups and broadcasts in which the user participates.

• Information will also be shared about the activity (the way you use their services, the way you interact with others through its services and similar data), log files, as well as performance, website, fault, and diagnostic reports and logs.

• Although WhatsApp is now a completely free application, its new conditions state that there may be non-refundable payments In any case, WhatsApp knows when the user pays for the services, for who receive information and confirmations, such as payment receipts, including those from app stores or third parties that process the payment.

• The data and information from the user's mobile phone is also likely to be read by Facebook. And it is that WhatsApp collects information such as hardware model, operating system information, browser information, IP address and mobile network information, including phone number and device identifiers. Collect data about the location of the device if your location features are used, as well as when you choose to share your location with contacts, view nearby places or those shared by others and the like for diagnostic purposes and troubleshooting, for example, if there are difficulties with WhatsApp's location sharing feature.

• WhatsApp Web is also not free. When using this web service, WhatsApp uses cookies for different reasons like to know which of your helpdesk FAQs are most popular and to display relevant content related to WhatsAppAlso to remember choices and settings such as the language of the service. Issues that Facebook can take advantage of to “improve the experience”,in their own words.

• The messaging service also collects user information through third parties That is, the user's phone number or common groups in which who participates thanks to another contact. Do not lose sight of the fact that WhatsApp works with suppliers and other companies that help you that the service works correctly. Well, these companies can send WhatsApp the pertinent data they have collected from the user (payment, application download, etc.) and, therefore, are likely that Facebook also knows it. Similarly, when using Internet storage services such as Google Drive or iCloud (which could be added soon), user data may also reach Google and Apple, companies that own these services to save backup copies.

• Neither Facebook nor WhatsApp can read the messages that are sent in the chats, nor the calls that are made through the application . However, the new conditions state that if there is a popular photo or video, it could remain on the servers of WhatsApp for more than 30 days So it is likely Let Facebook hear about it.

But why do they want to know all this information?

As reported by WhatsApp in its conditions, upon becoming part of the conglomerate of companies of Facebook, the information from users can flow in one direction or another The reason is that Facebook and the other companies in the Facebook family may also use this information to improve user experiences with their services, as well as suggestions (for example, from friends or connections, or interesting content), show relevant ads and offers Also to improve infrastructure and delivery systems, understand how your services are used, protect systems, and combat infringement, abuse, or spam activities.

This makes it clear that WhatsApp and Facebook are going to use all the data of their users indiscriminately in order to improve their services, make them commercially more effective and know absolutely everything that happens both in the messaging application and in the social network. Issues that should be reflected in more interesting announcements for the user, friendship suggestions andnew commercial services still to come.

Now then, the user's privacy will always be in question if we take into account that, even if this data is used for a supposed improvement , there is always the question of who can access them and how they are used.Something that is explicitly accepted when installing WhatsApp or creating a Facebook account and for so there is no turning back in any case, not even if the option to share with Facebook is deselected Without a doubt, a movement that will raise the suspicions of many and that It will lead many others to close their accounts and use other messaging applications and social networks. All this without losing sight of the fact that these new terms of WhatsApp and Facebook can be updated in any time to collect other functions and possibilities.