WhatsApp updates its Privacy Policy to mandate data-sharing with Facebook (opens in new tab)

(xda-developers.com)

60 pointschris_f5y ago17 comments

17 comments

16 comments · 7 top-level

Well we all saw this coming.

This puts me personally in a very bad state as I can never stop using WhatsApp because of its popularity here(ref. Fax machine problem). It’s almost like essential service.

egwor5y ago

Yeah, this is one of the reasons why I'd be pro splitting up Whatsapp and Facebook/Insta. I don't really follow the monopoly rules, so don't really know when it might be crossing that line. I guess the EU review of these firms will tell us.

graposaymaname5y ago

Yes me too. I’d be happy to pay for WhatsApp if I had an option to, instead of sharing my data with Facebook.

It’s almost like I’m compromising my most personal data for access to essential services and don’t know whether we can call the customer a “king” in this scenario.

swiley5y ago

At least people will hopefully learn the lesson: promoting un-federated services using closed software will always lead to people getting very hurt no matter how nice the company behind them is.

riedel5y ago

Interestingly here in Germany you can live in your whatsapp free bubble easily...until you get a child. Everyone I know gave up at this point (at least one parent).

teekert5y ago

Same in the Netherlands, School WA group, Class WA group (for both children), Sport WA groups (for both children), Children's birthdays WA groups, Family WA groups, Neighborhood WA groups (oh yes, we see this in many streets: [0])

[0]: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=whatsapp+buurtpreventie&t=ffsb&iax...

graposaymaname5y ago

Ah well, here in my country post pandemic almost everything runs on WhatsApp.

From Assignments being shared by teachers on school classroom groups to now payments via WhatsApp.

PopeDotNinja5y ago

Why is that? Children are not permitted to use WhatsApp?

1 more reply

izolate5y ago· 2 in thread

Unlike most, I praise any move like this that may bring an end to WhatsApp dominance. I'm still bitter at the world for betting on a platform that ties your identity to a phone number (instead of email, which doesn't change as you switch countries).

kichimi5y ago

WhatsApp provides a seamless transition between phone numbers, it's not obvious it does that unless you do it.

izolate5y ago

Not entirely seamless. It creates a hard-fork of your user account if you choose not to notify others of the number change (effectively cutting you off from contacts).

That's only one aspect, however. Most WA features have a diminished experience due to their early design choices centered around a phone (see WA web vs Messenger or Telegram web)

paozac5y ago

We knew this would happen. How long until a mandatory FB account?

vbrandl5y ago

That might be the nail in the coffin for me, where I will stop using WhatsApp

bluesign5y ago

I am guessing this is mostly related to Apple's IDFA changes.

- First facebook acted to label all their products with "from facebook".

- Now this privacy policy change.

It even says: "showing relevant offers and ads across the Facebook Company Products"

riedel5y ago

Luckily this mostly concerns mostly non-EU-citizens ;) ( in the EU Version the list of allowed uses is a lot shorter from what I saw)

swiley5y ago

Holy cow what a surprise that was.

I can't believe people were telling me this would never happen.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

17 comments

16 comments · 7 top-level

graposaymaname5y ago· 7 in thread

Well we all saw this coming.

This puts me personally in a very bad state as I can never stop using WhatsApp because of its popularity here(ref. Fax machine problem). It’s almost like essential service.

egwor5y ago

graposaymaname5y ago

Yes me too. I’d be happy to pay for WhatsApp if I had an option to, instead of sharing my data with Facebook.

It’s almost like I’m compromising my most personal data for access to essential services and don’t know whether we can call the customer a “king” in this scenario.

swiley5y ago

At least people will hopefully learn the lesson: promoting un-federated services using closed software will always lead to people getting very hurt no matter how nice the company behind them is.

riedel5y ago

Interestingly here in Germany you can live in your whatsapp free bubble easily...until you get a child. Everyone I know gave up at this point (at least one parent).

teekert5y ago

[0]: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=whatsapp+buurtpreventie&t=ffsb&iax...

graposaymaname5y ago

Ah well, here in my country post pandemic almost everything runs on WhatsApp.

From Assignments being shared by teachers on school classroom groups to now payments via WhatsApp.

PopeDotNinja5y ago

Why is that? Children are not permitted to use WhatsApp?

1 more reply

izolate5y ago· 2 in thread

kichimi5y ago

WhatsApp provides a seamless transition between phone numbers, it's not obvious it does that unless you do it.

izolate5y ago

Not entirely seamless. It creates a hard-fork of your user account if you choose not to notify others of the number change (effectively cutting you off from contacts).

That's only one aspect, however. Most WA features have a diminished experience due to their early design choices centered around a phone (see WA web vs Messenger or Telegram web)

paozac5y ago

We knew this would happen. How long until a mandatory FB account?

vbrandl5y ago

That might be the nail in the coffin for me, where I will stop using WhatsApp

bluesign5y ago

I am guessing this is mostly related to Apple's IDFA changes.

- First facebook acted to label all their products with "from facebook".

- Now this privacy policy change.

It even says: "showing relevant offers and ads across the Facebook Company Products"

riedel5y ago

Luckily this mostly concerns mostly non-EU-citizens ;) ( in the EU Version the list of allowed uses is a lot shorter from what I saw)

swiley5y ago

Holy cow what a surprise that was.

I can't believe people were telling me this would never happen.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse