WhatsApp Privacy and End-To-End Encryption: A Lock With A Universal Key

Imagine texting your family on WhatsApp that you are going to be parents. The next moment you search something on the internet and ads of baby products start popping up. What does that tell you? One thing that WhatsApp privacy is a myth.

The company, in a blog, updated its key terms of services and rolled out a mandatory agreement or discontinuation with the App. CiOL first reported it as and when the notification started rolling out in India. But now reading into the privacy policy, we are aware of the repercussions the Terms of Service brings. To summarise the new ToS, WhatsApp has updated its terms of services and privacy policy to make it mandatory for users to share their data with its parent company, Facebook. Further, WhatsApp Privacy policy has made it clear that users have to consent to share information with “third-party service providers and other Facebook Companies in this capacity or stop using WhatsApp."

How does the new WhatsApp Privacy Policy affect us?

WhatsApp Privacy policy states,

“The information we share with the other Facebook Companies includes your account registration information (such as your phone number), transaction data, service-related information, information on how you interact with others (including businesses) when using our Services, mobile device information, your IP address, and may include other information identified in the Privacy Policy section entitled ‘Information We Collect’ or obtained upon notice to you or based on your consent.”

It is a ballsy move, because first, the data collection was discreet. Now WhatsApp is openly stating that if you do not want to share you data with them, you can stop using the app. Also, this move is very alrming because this point wasn’t a part of previous WhatsApp privacy policy.  A WhatsApp spokesperson even said that this update of Terms of Service will help small businesses. He said, “We are updating our terms of service and privacy policy as we work to make WhatsApp a great way to get answers or help from a business.”

What Data these apps store?

Now, the data that happens to be on WhatsApp will resemble Facebook. Facebook shares data with governments on request and looks like WhatsApp will start doing the same. Not only this, WhatsApp also has a major chunk of information under Automatically Collected Information header. There, it categorises four significant sub-heads --Usage And Log Information, Device And Connection Information, Location Information and Cookies. Thus, all your activities are under the watch of the company. WhatsApp also makes it clear that it uses Facebook’s global infrastructure and data centers, including in the United State for storing data.

What can we do?

Can we move onto a WhatsApp alternative? Probably. But a very huge population depends on the app to connect to its dear and near ones. India can even make its own messaging platform, but until and unless it beats WhatsApp ease of use, the problem will pertain. There are many alternates including Telegram, Hike, Hangouts, Kik, etc. But Indian won't stop using WhatsApp anytime soon. Apparently, this feels like Aarogya Setu debate all over again.

Are we really end-to-end encrypted?

The answer is yes. WhatsApp privacy policy allows a lock on our chats. But, any business working with Facebook Ads has the key to that data. As Gadgets Now puts it, "the privacy policy – like most such documents - are full of legalese and technical jargons. One thing, however, is clear that whatever little autonomy WhatsApp might have had, is now over."