"WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using the app", 5 Jan 2021

WhatsApp, the Facebook-owned messenger that claims to have privacy coded into its DNA, is giving its 2 billion plus users an ultimatum: agree to share their personal data with the social network or delete their accounts. The requirement is being delivered through an in-app alert directing users to agree to sweeping changes in the WhatsApp terms of service. Those who don’t accept the revamped privacy policy by February 8 will no longer be able to use the app.

... Some of the data that WhatsApp collects includes:

User phone numbers

Other people’s phone numbers stored in address books

Profile names...

Under the new terms, Facebook reserves the right to share collected data with its family of companies.

... The move comes a month after Apple started requiring iOS app makers, including WhatsApp, to detail the information they collect from users. WhatsApp, according to the App Store, reserves the right to collect:

... The move, the [WhatsApp] spokeswoman said, is part of a previously disclosed move to allow businesses to store and manage WhatsApp chats using Facebook's infrastructure. Users won't have to use WhatsApp to interact with the businesses and have the option of blocking the businesses. She said there will be no change in how WhatsApp shares provides data with Facebook for non-business chats and account data.

... The Signal messenger provides the same robust encryption engine with a much more transparent privacy policy and terms of service.