WhatsApp has updated its privacy policy, and users have until February 8 to

accept the new terms and conditions. The new policy says how user data is
impacted when there is interaction with a business on the platform, and
provides more details on integration with Facebook, WhatsApp’s parent
company.
WhatsApp’s Privacy Policy For Europe Is Different & Doesn’t Force Users To Accept New Terms
(msn.com)

WhatsApp updated its terms of service and privacy policy on Wednesday for

users in India. iOS as well as Android mobile users have been receiving in-
app notification for the new update stating that they must accept it.
With the newly updated policy, the Facebook-owned messaging platform
shares insight to the kind of data it collects from users and also data it
shares with other Facebook services. The messaging platform is asking
users to accept the updated privacy policy latest by February 8, 2021. The
company also confirms that any user failing to accept the updated
WhatsApp privacy policy will lose access to their account. 

What is WhatsApp’s new privacy policy all about

In the new terms of service and privacy policy, WhatsApp reveals the kind
of data it collects from users and stores in its database. Data that the
messaging platform collects from users include account information,
messages (including undelivered messages, media forwarding),
connections, status information, transactions and payments data, usage
and log information, device and connection information, location
information, cookies and much more. The company has also announced
details that it collects shares with Facebook and its services.

What data WhatsApp collects and shares with

Facebook
In the privacy policy, WhatsApp highlights information that it shares with its
parent company Facebook and why. “As part of the Facebook Companies,
WhatsApp receives information from, and shares information with, the other
Facebook Companies. We may use the information we receive from them,
and they may use the information we share with them, to help operate,
provide, improve, understand, customize, support, and market our Services
and their offerings, including the Facebook Company Products,” the new
WhatsApp policy notes.

The messaging platform reveals that the information it shares with

Facebook Companies include account registration information, details on
how users interact with others including business, mobile device
information, IP address, among others.

The policy also informs that when users rely on “third-party services or
other Facebook Company Products that are integrated with our Services,
those third-party services may receive information about what you or others
share with them.” For instance, users either use Google Drive or iCloud to
backup chats and that by default provides their services access to
WhatsApp chats/messages. The messaging platform also mentions that
“third-party services or other Facebook Company Products, their own terms
and privacy policies will govern your use of those services and products.”

WhatsApp highlights that it collects some more information from devices

such as “battery level, signal strength, app version, browser information,
mobile network, connection information (including phone number, mobile
operator or ISP), language and time zone, IP address, device operations
information, and identifiers (including identifiers unique to Facebook
Company Products associated with the same device or account).”

WhatsApp also confirms that users who use Payments in India will need to
provide additional information including payment account and transaction
information.

WhatsApp on storing user data

WhatsApp mentions in the privacy policy that it uses Facebook’s global
infrastructure and data centers, including those in the US to store user
data. This is the very first time that the platform is openly talking about data
collection and storage. The policy also states that some of the data will be
transferred to the US or other parts where Facebook’s affiliate companies
are based. It adds, “these transfers are necessary to provide the global
Services set forth in our Terms.” WhatsApp’s new policy states that even if
a user does not use their location-relation features, they collect “IP
addresses and other information like phone number area codes to estimate
your general location (city, country).”

Why you should accept WhatsApp privacy policy

If you have been using WhatsApp for over several years you should be
aware that the messaging platform updates its policies frequently. What’s
new in the latest policy is that this is for the very first time that WhatsApp is
openly providing details around user data collection and storage. Users
have time till February 8, 2021 to accept the new policy or lose their
account.

The updated WhatsApp privacy policy elaborates on the data

collected by the company to enable various features.
With WhatsApp Pay, the platform can also have access to
your transactional and payment data, if you use the service.
By default, WhatsApp stores your app usage, including name,
and display pictures of your WhatsApp groups, among other
things. 
“We collect device and connection-specific information when
you install, access, or use our Services. This includes
information such as hardware model, operating system
information, battery level, signal strength, app version,
browser information, mobile network, connection information
(including phone number, mobile operator or ISP), language
and time zone, IP address, device operations information,
and identifiers (including identifiers unique to Facebook
Company Products associated with the same device or
account).”
The data also includes location, how you use WhatsApp, and
third-party integration (like sharing a YouTube video). It even
says if you backup your chats to Drive or iCloud, the backed-
up chats go under Google and Apple‘s privacy policies.
Simply put, WhatsApp isn’t accountable for how you use
third-party integration.
There are two main reasons for this. First, the new privacy
policy that WhatsApp had to adopt for the European Union,
keeping their user data within Europe. The second is the iOS
app privacy measures, demanding WhatsApp to ask before
collecting/using your data. A 9to5Mac comparison of
messenger services and your data linked to them shows
Facebook Messenger asking for the maximum number of
permissions.
So it was about time that Facebook decided to clarify how it
intends to use WhatsApp in the future. That’s where the new
privacy policy comes in. It makes it normal for WhatsApp to
use third-party integration, including Facebook’s own
integration to show you targeted ads.

WhatsApp Messenger is a cross-platform mobile messaging app which allows you to

exchange messages without having to pay for SMS. 

Launched in 2009, WhatsApp is one of the most popular text and voice
messaging apps. It’s free to use, and you can send messages, make voice calls,
and host video chats on both desktop and mobile devices.

Part of what makes this app appealing is that it works on various phone and
computer operating systems, helping with messaging. It can also take
advantage of Wi-Fi and cellular data to make one-on-one or group calls.
WhatsApp, which has over 400 million users in India, counts the country
among its biggest markets globally.

Downloads

Whatsapp - 5,00,00,00,000 +

Telegram - 50,00,00,000 +

Signal - 1,00,00,000 +

Facebook -5,00,00,00,000 +

What is whatsapp used for …its advantages/disadvantages/history

When fb took over?

Privacy policy-meaning, use, adv/ disadv

Diff for Europe,y a new privacy policy was introduced?, What data WhatsApp
collects and shares with Facebook
Y storing user data,y is it mandatory to be accepted
Demand for whatsapp and economic aspect-Muskan
Intro-Anshika
Privacy policy -Anshika
Adv/disadv (privacy policy)-Sanya
Conclusion-Muskan
Operation - Shivansh
Y privacy policy has come?-Shivansh
Legal privacy policy-Muskan