WhatsApp to begin sharing data with Facebook

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Doc67
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WhatsApp to begin sharing data with Facebook

Post by Doc67 »

For once I'm not here begging for tech advice on simple things.

I received a message on WhatsApp from a friend in the UK saying that once WhatsApp changes it's terms and gives Facebook access he will be moving to Signal and deleting his account. This is due within a month.

Facebook already owns WhatsApp so I would of thought they were already doing this in some way, but a quick search threw this up:

WhatsApp is forcing users to share data with Facebook


https://www.shacknews.com/article/12209 ... collection.

Does anyone know if this will have any impact on me? I don't have a Facebook account so I can't see how this will affect me, unless they are going to start demanding I do get a FB account, at which point I'll be deleting too.

Anyone know anything about this and is it anything to be concerned about?
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Re: WhatsApp to begin sharing data with Facebook

Post by timmydownawell »

They have been working to merge their three messaging apps (Facebook/Whatsapp and Instagram's messaging function) for years. Part of the "sharing of data" aspect is that you'll be giving your phone number and potentially your contacts to FB now (in the event you haven't already done so).
You must walk in traffic to cross the road - Cambodian proverb
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Re: WhatsApp to begin sharing data with Facebook

Post by Doc67 »

timmydownawell wrote: Sat Jan 09, 2021 1:23 pm They have been working to merge their three messaging apps (Facebook/Whatsapp and Instagram's messaging function) for years. Part of the "sharing of data" aspect is that you'll be giving your phone number and potentially your contacts to FB now (in the event you haven't already done so).
I've done a bit of digging and it doesn't cover the EU or the UK. Probably the GDPR at work. But my Cambo number is vulnerable. I got the message on my UK number account but nothing yet on my Cambo number account. Maybe they're just going to do it.

Why would Facebook want a bunch of random names and phone numbers anyway?
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Re: WhatsApp to begin sharing data with Facebook

Post by timmydownawell »

Doc67 wrote: Sat Jan 09, 2021 1:51 pm
timmydownawell wrote: Sat Jan 09, 2021 1:23 pm They have been working to merge their three messaging apps (Facebook/Whatsapp and Instagram's messaging function) for years. Part of the "sharing of data" aspect is that you'll be giving your phone number and potentially your contacts to FB now (in the event you haven't already done so).
I've done a bit of digging and it doesn't cover the EU or the UK. Probably the GDPR at work. But my Cambo number is vulnerable. I got the message on my UK number account but nothing yet on my Cambo number account. Maybe they're just going to do it.

Why would Facebook want a bunch of random names and phone numbers anyway?
To expand their empire? Or just the six degrees of separation thing so they can cross promote crap between people who may (or may not) be like minded and/or suggest them to each other. The more they know about you the more valuable they are (in stock price/advertising/data terms).
You must walk in traffic to cross the road - Cambodian proverb
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Re: WhatsApp to begin sharing data with Facebook

Post by xandreu »

I'm not sure why Whatsapp is so popular back home and Telegram is not. Telegram is open source - meaning anyone with the know-how can examine the code and se exactly what it's up to, who it shares information with and how secure it really is. Whatsapp is closed source, meaning the code is 100% locked down and nobody has access to it.

Not only that but Whatsapp is pretty featureless compared to what Telegram can do. I only use Whatsapp keep in touch with family and friends back home, as they are reluctant to change. Just goes to show you that as far as tech companies are concerned, its more important to 'get in there first' and establish a wide user base than it is to offer any kind of decent service.
The difference between animals and humans is that animals would never allow the dumb ones to lead the pack.
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Re: WhatsApp to begin sharing data with Facebook

Post by Doc67 »

xandreu wrote: Sat Jan 09, 2021 3:29 pm I'm not sure why Whatsapp is so popular back home and Telegram is not. Telegram is open source - meaning anyone with the know-how can examine the code and se exactly what it's up to, who it shares information with and how secure it really is. Whatsapp is closed source, meaning the code is 100% locked down and nobody has access to it.

Not only that but Whatsapp is pretty featureless compared to what Telegram can do. I only use Whatsapp keep in touch with family and friends back home, as they are reluctant to change. Just goes to show you that as far as tech companies are concerned, its more important to 'get in there first' and establish a wide user base than it is to offer any kind of decent service.
Thanks for the info. I have already got Signal and will also download Telegraph. You have made a good point, people tend to stick with what they know. It seems it's time to go messenger shopping.

Maybe you should start a thread about what communication apps are out there and the pros and cons.
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Re: WhatsApp to begin sharing data with Facebook

Post by phuketrichard »

i use whats app
cause its encrypted
everyone i wish to speak to, video chat with or text with uses it
works fine

I dont need any other bells and whistles
In a nation run by swine, all pigs are upward-mobile and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely. HST
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Re: WhatsApp to begin sharing data with Facebook

Post by truffledog »

I am sorry to tell but the tech/web giants already have all your data you ever entered in internet for many different purposes. You have accepted millions of cookies in those years and used all those "free" apps and software galore and have agreed to the terms you probabyl never read (or never completely understood as in my case). You cant hide anymore unless you use a LOT of precaution.Its like sex..initially you protect yourself best possible and then you lower your guard as you think you are safe...
work is for people who cant find truffles
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Re: WhatsApp to begin sharing data with Facebook

Post by xandreu »

phuketrichard wrote: Sat Jan 09, 2021 4:58 pm i use whats app
cause its encrypted
everyone i wish to speak to, video chat with or text with uses it
works fine

I dont need any other bells and whistles
Whatsapp says it is encrypted, but as I said, it's closed source, so there is no way to see if it really is encrypted and how strong the encryption really is. And even if it is encrypted, it goes through their servers and again, there is no way of knowing if there is a 'back door' which allows them to unencrypt it, keep the data, encrypt it again and send it on to the recipient.

It's owned by the biggest data farm on the planet, Facebook, which should give you an indication as to how trustworthy it is.
The difference between animals and humans is that animals would never allow the dumb ones to lead the pack.
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Re: WhatsApp to begin sharing data with Facebook

Post by xandreu »

truffledog wrote: Sat Jan 09, 2021 5:16 pm I am sorry to tell but the tech/web giants already have all your data you ever entered in internet for many different purposes. You have accepted millions of cookies in those years and used all those "free" apps and software galore and have agreed to the terms you probabyl never read (or never completely understood as in my case). You cant hide anymore unless you use a LOT of precaution.Its like sex..initially you protect yourself best possible and then you lower your guard as you think you are safe...
True, you can't hide, but you can make it more difficult for those that want your data to get access to it. And a lot of the privacy steps you can take are quite simple to do, even for the non-techies. My three main suggestions wold be:

1 - Use Linux if at all possible. If you really need Windows for work purposes, have a dual boot system where you can use Windows for work, and Linux for personal use. Linux isn't the 'only for techies' OS it used to be. There are many distros which are extremely easy to use, on a par with Windows.

2- Use FOSS (free and open source software) wherever you can. Whatever software you use, there is usually a FOSS alternative. We all know that when something is free, it means the user is the product being sold, but open source allows anyone to inspect the code and see what it's really doing. And if anything suspect is found, it is widely publicised.

3 - Use different browsers for different things. I use one browser for Google related things, one for Facebook, and one for everything else. It's not difficult to set up and it means that any cookies that are placed on browser, don't follow you around the internet when you use another.

I understand that most people take the 'I have nothing to hide so nothing to fear' attitude and that's fine, but these people are exactly what the big tech companies love. If you really knew what they had learned about you, you might think again.

If I followed you around with a notepad, writing down everything you did, everywhere you went, everything you said and who you said it to, everything you bought or showed an interest in buying, etc etc, you'd quite rightly call the police. It astounds me that when it comes to the internet, these types of activities are simply accepted by most people with a shrug of the shoulders.
The difference between animals and humans is that animals would never allow the dumb ones to lead the pack.
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