WhatsApp isn't sharing your info only with Facebook, and you can't opt out

You should be aware that WhatsApp’s recent announcement on sharing your information with Facebook does not involve your data being shared only with Facebook. In fact, the data will be shared across Facebook’s entire family, which involves companies such as Atlas, Instagram, Onavo, Parse, Moves, Oculus, LiveRail, and Masquerade. The data will be shared ‘for other purposes such as improving infrastructure and delivery systems, understanding how our services or theirs are used, securing systems, and fighting spam, abuse, or infringement activities,’ terms WhatsApp.

Facebook had acquired the encrypted mobile messaging platform WhatsApp for $19 billion in 2014. And when the acquisition took place, WhatsApp users were highly concerned about their privacy since they suspected that Facebook would now be entitled to more user information. This acquisition was not as small as one would think as users were concerned about the security of their communication being handed over to the largest possible data mining operation in human history.

When WhatsApp was acquired, the messaging platform’s co-founder Jan Koum claimed that there would be no changes to the operating with a claim “There would have been no partnership between our two companies if we had to compromise on the core principles that will always define our company, our vision and our product.” 

What came in as a surprise is when Facebook Inc-owned WhatsApp announced last week that it would now share all user information with Facebook, which compromises the core principle — ‘privacy’ — that defined WhatsApp in the first place.

The information on WhatsApp’s blog states that the Privacy Policy has been updated to the following: “WhatsApp’s terms and privacy policy for the first time in four years, as part of our plans to test ways for people to communicate with businesses in the months ahead.” Anti Media reports that everyone who uses the app should carefully read WhatsApp’s new privacy policy entirely, and in particularly, where it mentions that WhatsApp is ‘coordinating with Facebook’ to make your life awesome.

Though the policy stresses that messages are still encrypted and ‘WhatsApp cares about your privacy’, the policy still mentions further you have to agree to what they will do with your data.

‘You agree to our (WhatsApp’s) data practices, including the collection, use, processing, and sharing of your information as described in our Privacy Policy, as well as the transfer and processing of your information to the United States and other countries globally where we have or use facilities, service providers, or partners, regardless of where you use our Services. You acknowledge that the laws, regulations, and standards of the country in which your information is stored or processed may be different from those of your own country.’

In short, Anti Media explains, when you agree to the ToS, you are agreeing to share your information with Facebook and ‘other companies in the Facebook family’ which include, Atlas, Instagram, Onavo, Parse, Moves, Oculus, LiveRail (now operating as Facebook Audience Network), and Masquerade. Anti Media says, ’ The reasons (listed in the Privacy Policy) for sharing your information consist of a string of verbs that sound professional and positive, but remain vague enough to cover almost any use of your information.’

And the worst part comes ahead — you can’t opt out.

Well, there are many articles floating online that show you how you can opt out of WhatsApp’s new rule on sharing your information. Well, the eye-opener is that though WhatsApp mentions that you can opt out, their FAQ section states the other way. The help or FAQ on opting out gives you steps to two options to opt out of the new terms. While one is a checkbox which says that you ‘agree’ to share your account information with Facebook, the other one is to uncheck the ‘Share my account info’ under the Account tab in WhatsApp. However, the bottom message on the same FAQ page gives out an uncomfortable statement, which reads, ‘The Facebook family of companies will still receive and use this information for other purposes such as improving infrastructure and delivery systems, understanding how our services or theirs are used, securing systems, and fighting spam, abuse, or infringement activities.’ It’s just a cleverly-worded agreement.

The days of privacy are long gone and each of you should know that most of your information, whether you like it or not, is actually flying around in cyberspace. Though the best option is to stop using the online services altogether, in today’s fast world, staying off the internet grid is highly impossible. If you are concerned about your privacy being shared by any of the services you are using out there, you should refrain from feeding it too much information.