..though you can disable the sharing
WhatsApp has just released announcement that it will begin the process of sharing your phone number with Facebook. We all know Facebook is WhatsApp’s parent company. The messaging service has performed updates to its policy concerning its privacy to show the new developments including as other additions to the messaging platform. These changes cut across desktop clients, WhatsApp Web, not to forget end-to-end encryption, as well as voice call service.
This doesn’t necessarily imply that you will soon start getting ads on WhatsApp. The messaging service is yet reiterating faithfulness to its pledge of never offering ads on its platform. Rather this number data will be deployed to show you well targeted advertisements on Facebook; as well as making improved friend suggestions, also being used in the battle against spam. And in the case where you are opposed to having your number shared with Facebook, you have the option of opting out.
Via means of a blog post publicizing the changes, WhatsApp reaffirmed its dedication towards its user privacy, declaring that all messages will remain private. As such WhatsApp will not have the capacity read them, neither will Facebook be able to read them or any third-party advertisers:
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.
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. For example, you might see an ad from a company you already work with, rather than one from someone you’ve never heard of.
We shouldn’t heave a big sigh of relief yet as despite ads not yet being introduced to WhatsApp, the service has once given hints that it examining avenues to connect its user base with businesses.m
