WhatsApp recently updated their Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, where they specifically mention the kind of data that their mother company Facebook collects from a WhatsApp user. Facebook already shares the details about the information they collect from their users. Being a Facebook company, WhatsApp is making its methods more transparent to the public.
A user can know the kind of details that WhatsApp collects and shares. Go to Settings and then to Account, where you can download a report by tapping on ‘Request Account Info’. A ZIP file and a JSON file will be downloaded, and they can be viewed in a web browser. This file contains the user information regarding the user’s WhatsApp account.
But people are doubtful about these new updates regarding WhatsApp’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
What is the data that WhatsApp keep about their users?
WhatsApp states that, for providing better services and to ensure a hassle-free user experience, they collect certain user data. But they ensure that collecting these data will not hinder the privacy of a user in any way. WhatsApp collects information such as the user’s phone number, the name that is attached to the account, the user’s current WhatsApp profile photo, the device used to log into, the time when you have been online, all your contacts, all group names of which you are a member of, the device type WhatsApp (Mobile or PC), the IP address, device build number, device manufacturer, details of the web/desktop version and the platform which is used for WhatsApp Web, and the user’s WhatsApp status. The exact time when the current profile photo was set by the user and the current status message is also stored by WhatsApp.
A contact list is stored where all the list of numbers that a user has chatted is available. But the name of the contact is not available. Also, chats are not stored. But the profile photo and textual status of the user are being stored, and the same is being shared to Facebook. Only contact numbers are stored and not the names. The new privacy policy clearly states that they are not storing the user’s contact information. Even if a person in the user’s contact list is not a WhatsApp user, they will not store that number, but only use it momentarily for improving user experience.
Details regarding the groups that a user has been a part of are also stored. The report that the user can generate from WhatsApp contains a list of the names of all the groups that the user is a part of. This list includes all the current groups as well as the previous groups, in which the user is no longer a participant. Further details include the settings for the application; Last Seen, Profile Photo, About Privacy, and Status Privacy. A list of blocked numbers is also being stored in the servers which can be seen in this report.
This is in general about the new updates in WhatsApp’s Privacy Policy. Since there have been widespread doubts among the users regarding privacy issues, WhatsApp has extended the period for accepting these new clauses.
Comparison of WhatsApp’s privacy policy in 2014, before the latest change and after the latest change.
| In 2014 | Before the new change | After the new change |
| All messages end-to-end encrypted | All messages end-to-end encrypted | All messages end-to-end encrypted |
| Nothing you share on WhatsApp, including your messages, photos, and account information will be shared with Facebook | WhatsApp shares data with Facebook including your phone number and last seen activity | WhatsApp will collect data about how you interact with others, your groups, profile photo, ‘about’ information, your “last seen”, whether you are online or not |
| An existing user can choose not to have their WhatsApp account information shared with Facebook to improve their Facebook ads and products experience | WhatsApp will share data with Facebook Companies | If you use WhatsApp payment service, they will collect information about payment account, transaction information including information needed to complete the transaction |
| WhatsApp Services may allow you to access, use, or interact with third-party websites, apps, content, and other products and services | WhatsApp will collect log information like how you use the Services, how you interact with others using the Services, crash reports | No logs kept on your messaging or calling; you can set your messages to disappear |
| No third-party banner ads allowed | WhatsApp will collect device-specific information including the hardware model, operating system information, browser information, IP address, mobile network information including phone number and device identifiers | Your shared location is not seen by WhatsApp or Facebook; WhatsApp doesn’t share your contacts with Facebook, and WhatsApp groups remain private |
| WhatsApp will explore ways for you and businesses to communicate with each other using WhatsApp | WhatsApp collects information about your online and status message | You can download your data |
WhatsApp users flow towards rivals such as Telegram and Signal
The change in WhatsApp T&C has nevertheless created fear among its users and millions are flocking towards alternate messaging apps like Telegram and Signal. After the change in WhatsApp T&C, Telegram reported it is having over 525 million monthly active users after it added more than 90 million users, while Signal doubling its user base to 40 million in just the month of January 2021. The mass migration to the other platforms could significantly weaken the power of Facebook and other such tech giants.
Given the increase in the user base of these rival messaging platforms Telegram and Signal, TeleMessage is adding recording and archiving capabilities for the Telegram and Signal messaging apps. Firms that need to monitor Telegram or record Signal communication for text messaging compliance or as mandated by various rules and regulations can use these capabilities.
Firms that are in need to be compliant while using Telegram or Signal for text messaging compliance can sign up for the TeleMessage beta of the Telegram Archiver and Signal Archiver for recording all their mobile communication. Financial firms that use Telegram and Signal for business purposes can now use TeleMessage to record and archive Telegram and Signal communication for text messaging compliance.
About TeleMessage
TeleMessage captures and retains mobile content, including mobile SMS messages, voice calls, and WeChat conversations from corporate or BYOD mobile phones to ensure compliance with various data protection regulations. The messages are securely and reliably retained within TeleMessage servers or forwarded to your choice archiving data storage vendor.
Our mobile archiving products securely record content from mobile carriers and mobile devices for various ownership models (BYOD, CYOD, and employer-issued). With our multiple archiving solutions, you can always find the right tools or blend for your requirements:
TeleMessage offers cross-carrier and international mobile text & calls archiving for corporate and BYOD phones. Visit our website at www.telemessage.com to learn more about our mobile archiving products.
