Facebook-owned messaging giant WhatsApp will begin to share data including users’ phone number with its parent company, as part of plans to allow businesses to send messages to users.
It will be the first time the messaging service has connected users’ accounts to the social network to share data.
Starting from today, the billion-plus users will be notified of the change to its privacy policy, and have 30 days to decide whether to opt out of their information being used for ad targeting on Facebook.
Once users approve the new T&Cs, their phone numbers and analytics data (not including Whatsapp messages, the mobile messaging giant said) will be shared with Facebook to “help tackle spam and abuse”, as well as offer people “better friend suggestions and more relevant ads” on Facebook, but not on the messaging service itself.
“We still do not allow third-party banner ads on WhatsApp,” said in its latest blogpost. “We have no intention to introduce them, but if we ever do, we will update this policy.”
However, the updated privacy policy will pave the way for businesses to send messages to WhatsApp users. WhatsApp’s spokeperson said, ” We want to explore ways for you to communicate with businesses that matter to you too, while still giving you an experience without third-party banner ads and spam”.
Here are some updates at a glance:
- WhatsApp can now share data including your phone number with Facebook, letting Facebook better target adverts and improve friend suggestions
- Facebook and WhatsApp will be able to link accounts using technology that tells them when a phone has installed both, its device type and software information
- WhatsApp says messages will continue to be encrypted, and there will be no third-party banner ads on WhatsApp so far
- The privacy policy also allows business accounts for the first time. WhatsApp plans to make the app a home for customer service, allowing companies to contact users
- Users have a limited time of 30 days to decide whether they opt out of sharing data with Facebook
