WhatsApp well share your IP address and your phone number with Facebook, even without updating the conditions of use.

Whatsapp, Messenger and Instagram // Source: Frandroid applications

For a week and a half, WhatsApp has struggled to communicate on updating its conditions of use.It must be said that the various statements of the American group have been convoluted to say the least, in particular concerning the changes put in place for users in Europe.

On January 7, Facebook indicated that European WhatsApp users would not be affected by the use of personal data: “WhatsApp still does not share the data of WhatsApp users in the European Union with Facebook in order Facebook usesthese data to improve its products and advertisements ”.Nevertheless, twelve days later, it seems that the social network has changed its rifle.

BFM Raphaël Grably's journalist indeed reports that Facebook has confirmed to him that French users would be affected by these changes in use condition: "Facebook confirms that WhatsApp will share the information related to the phone number, to the addressIP and transactions (when the function will be available in France) with Facebook, including Y in France ”.

The journalist recalls that this sharing of data between the two services was already well indicated in the FAQ posted by WhatsApp, even if the initial communication of Facebook suggested that it would not concern France.Above all, this data sharing is already in place in Facebook and WhatsApp, without being clear in the T & Cs.Nevertheless, as Raphaël Grably indicates, "the change is that it becomes compulsory for everyone".Indeed, when the new conditions of use will be implemented on May 15, users who do not subscribe will no longer be able to use the WhatsApp messaging service.

A speech far from being clear on the side of Facebook

In addition to these few tweets, the BFM journalist also returns to the difficulty of obtaining clear information from Facebook, which does not seem determined to fully play the transparency card."When I ask Facebook the difference with politics in the EU and out of the EU, they just tell me about the spread of targeted advertising.What is surprising since it seemed to say this targeted advertisement would not apply anywhere, "he said.He also regrets a particularly vague speech which seems to be intended for the public "understands absolutely nothing".

Finally, concerning the use of private data in a targeted advertising framework, Facebook does not close the door.The social network indicates that the personal data of WhatsApp cannot be used in order to offer targeted advertising on Facebook, but this restriction comes mainly from a legal prohibition.Nevertheless, if the legal framework is evolving, Facebook may well have to use WhatsApp data to target its users more, after receiving the agreement of the Irish Commissioner in charge of data protection.

The controversy rumbles against the new conditions of use of WhatsApp.Some competing services have thus won many users.And many of you are considering signal.Read more

To follow us, we invite you to download our Android and iOS application.You can read our articles, files, and watch our latest YouTube videos.

Find the news of WhatsApp