In 2014, the world woke up to a mega deal between Facebook and WhatsApp. Facebook bought WhatsApp at a whooping nineteen billion dollars. This major change meant that users of both social media platforms should get ready to cooperation and easier dealings between the two. Just the other day, WhatsApp made a major announcement. In a blog post, it made it known to their clients that it wills share data of all WhatsApp accounts, with Facebook. After Facebook bought WhatsApp, it became its mother company. There has not been any major change even after the huge deal. But this announcement breaks the four years run that WhatsApp has not updated its terms. It is the first time in close to half a decade that the privacy policy of the company will be updated.
The data that will be availed to Facebook is inclusive of the personal information of its users. This includes phone number of those with WhatsApp accounts as well as their analytical data. It is the first time that the company will be disclosing such details to another company. The current privacy policy allows the company only to keep custody of this information. It is important to note that WhatsApp users are over a billion across the globe.
The company has said that the move is aimed to improve business around the world; it will be easy to contact the over one billion users easily. This will ease communication between buyers and sellers. It will connect firms to potential clients and make dissemination of information easy from all corners of the world. New products will be easily introduced in the market and the firms will enjoy a bigger client base. It will improve international trade, as people living far away will easily reach out customers in other far countries.
But WhatsApp also stated that they respect their user’s privacy. The firm will therefore give a thirty days period for their users to either confirm or decline to have their data submitted to Facebook. For existing users, they should go to WhatsApp settings then their account and make their choice. This is because the firm believes in the freedom of choice for its members. During this period, account holders will be at liberty to choose to have their data given to Facebook or not. Users will have a chance of opting out. Once one opts out, it will mean that they will keep on using the two platforms as they are now.
Though the firm said it is doing this to open up business all over, it has categorically stated that it will not share this data with any other company. Advertisers will also be kept at bay since they will not be able to access this data; this will save users from unscrupulous business people who clog users’ timelines with irrelevant adverts. It will also save users from mis-leading adverts and product promotion, which is are baseless; Facebook will promote business ethics.
Further, it will be easier to control spam. This is because its mother company will validate what is being posted. It will also deal with reported cases by users on spam and indecent language. In simpler terms Facebook, will be in charge of the discipline of the users. This coordination will make such follow ups as basic metric possible. It will be easier to take data on how people use such services. At the end, it will be able to make a follow up of how many users accessed their services.
Even though there is a slight overlook of the privacy of the users in accordance to the original setting, the firm has assured its users that the private messages will remain strictly private. What has made it possible is the fact that the firm rolled out a new feature. The new feature end-to-end encryption ensures that messages users are secured. Anybody not included in a conversation will not be able to access that particular conversation. By default, messages from users will be encrypted. Not even Facebook can access these messages even after the user data is submitted. The arrays of fears of privacy of private chats have been solved. It is also important to note that WhatsApp does not store messages once they are delivered, thus not even the firm itself can access these messages once a conversations is up or running.
WhatsApp to share data with Facebook
Once the number is connected to Facebook, it will make it easier to catch up with friends on Facebook because the company will find it easier to suggest friends for the user. This will be drawn from numbers with striking similarities. WhatsApp groups will be an example of a source of such suggestions. Therefore, users will be able to keep connection growing by being linked up to new friends. Facebook will further suggest the best adverts for their users. This will be based on location, preference and other such characteristics.
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Conclusion
There is a lot to be expected from this collaboration. However, the best thing is to sit and wait as events roll out.
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