This week, Whatsapp announced changes to its privacy policy. Acquired by Facebook in 2014, the popular messaging service stated that it would start sharing users’ phone numbers with its parent company to allow for more targeted advertising. Users everywhere voiced their opinions about the change, with many expressing desire to opt out of the new terms.
• Tweeps gave mixed reactions. Some say they expected it, while others simply made jokes. Most, however, have urged followers to opt out of the feature then shared tips and links on how to do so. @FaisalHashmi: “People outraged at Facebook mining data from Whatsapp users – what did you think they bought a free app for $19 million for? Its users.
@JZdziarski: “How to stop Whatsapp from sharing your number with Facebook:
1. Delete Whatsapp.
2. Delete Facebook.”
@kevrx: “So Whatsapp added a privacy policy this morning that allows the app to share info with Facebook. And we all accepted, without reading.”
@sarahrizvi: “Seriously do this if you haven’t already! Whatsapp Settings > Account > Share My Account Info > Uncheck this option.
@GabbbarSingh: “’OMG FB is stealing WhatsApp data. So what if they paid $19 billion.’ ‘This site shows me ads. Block ‘em!’ The entitlement and freeloading baffles [me].”
@one_by_two: “Hey WhatsApp! I am not bothered if you share my number and private data with Facebook. Go ahead! Just don’t share anything with my wife.”
@BobJenkins2013: “Whatsapp is now looking at your chats to share data with Fcaebook for ads. Go to your settings to opt out!”
• Like Twitter, Facebook was filled with people sharing instructions on how to stop WhatsApp from sharing data. However, some users didn’t seem to mind the change,
Junior Aston Erasmus: “Been long waiting for WhatsApp and Facebook to merge. I guess this is the first step. To all the people thinking about privacy, don’t worry; WhatsApp is still the most secured chat app you can have on your mobile. Looking to see great things #WhatsApp #WhatsAppFacebook. I can’t wait to have access to my photos on Facebook from #WhatsApp.”
Lennie J. Taylor: Existing users have 30 days to opt out. If you use the app, then you’ll definitely want to check this out. WhatsApp users will have a small grace period to opt out of the data sharing with Facebook – but it’s still troubling that the company has seemingly backtracked on its original privacy promises.
Nathaniel Underwood: “Call me paranoid, but all those odd “People You May Know Suggestions” that have been cropping up indicate to me that Facebook has been using WhatsApp data for weeks already.”
Gerdi Dutchie Verwoert: “How many of you use WhatsApp and, like me, are not really aware of their plan to share your phone number with Facebook to ‘increase your experience’?”
Justin Grace Swab: “This is ridiculous. Makes the end-to-end encryption a joke.”
Ben Fuller: “Ironically, under this story was an advert for timeshare holiday villas which really don’t appeal to me. If I’m being advertised to anyway, it’s better to get adverts for the things I need, surely.
You might complain about data being scanned by a machine to pick out key words such as “dinner” and “restaurant”, actually having that machine feedback an idea of which restaurant to go to sounds like a superb idea. I mean, I’m human and thus possess the power of choice and can just as easily decide not go to that restaurant and instead pick a different one.
Unless, hang on, does Facebook employ a team of people who read through all my posts, end to end, laughing at the jokes I write and grimacing at anything bad I say? Nah, I’m pretty sure they have a computer to do that and that my context will be lost within the googleplex of information they mine!”
