WhatsApp to Share User Data With Facebook Inc (FB): How to Opt Out

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WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), has announced that it will be sharing some user data with its parent company.

WhatsApp, Facebook, FBWhatsApp released a blog entry noting that it is updating its terms and privacy policy for the first time in four years. Once users agree to this update, the service will start sharing some of their information with Facebook.

WhatsApp says that this information will be used to improve the platform and help reduce spam. It also notes that the change will let it improve communication between businesses and users, which is called ad targeting. The information could also be shared with some of Facebook’s other companies.

Luckily, users of the social media service do have the option of opting out of some of the data sharing. Users that don’t want to share their WhatsApp data with Facebook can select not to before agreeing to the new terms and privacy policy. This only covers the ad-targeting data. So some information will still be shared.

Those that have already agreed to the new WhatsApp policy can still opt out of it. They can do this by going to Settings > Account > Share my account info in the app. The change can be made from here, but users only have 30 days after agreeing to the new terms to make this change. Otherwise their data will be permanently shared with Facebook.

WhatsApp users that don’t want to share any of their data with Facebook don’t have any options. To get what they want, they would have to stop using the service completely.

WhatsApp users that are interested in reading the new terms and privacy policy in its entirety can find it at this link.

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Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2016/08/whatsapp-opt-out-facebook-fb/.

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