WhatsApp Messenger

"As part of the Meta Companies, WhatsApp receives information from, and shares information with, the other Meta Companies. We may use the information we receive from them, and they may use the information we share with them, to help operate, provide, improve, understand, customize, support, and market our Services and their offerings, including the Meta Company Products."

WhatsApp shares user data broadly across Meta's family of companies for purposes well beyond providing the WhatsApp service itself, including marketing and personalizing other Meta products.

"improving their services and your experiences using them, such as making suggestions for you (for example, of friends or group connections, or of interesting content), personalizing features and content, helping you complete purchases and transactions, and showing relevant offers and ads across the Meta Company Products."

WhatsApp data is used to build unified profiles and show personalized ads across Meta's family of products, linking user activity across multiple services.

"Even if you do not use our location-related features, we use IP addresses and other information like phone number area codes to estimate your general location (e.g., city and country). We also use your location information for diagnostics and troubleshooting purposes."

WhatsApp estimates user location passively via IP address and phone number area codes even when users have not opted into location-sharing features.

"We collect device and connection-specific information when you install, access, or use our Services. This includes information such as hardware model, operating system information, battery level, signal strength, app version, browser information, mobile network, connection information (including phone number, mobile operator or ISP), language and time zone, IP address, device operations information, and identifiers (including identifiers unique to Meta Company Products associated with the same device or account)."

WhatsApp collects extensive device data including battery level, signal strength, and cross-product device identifiers that go beyond what a messaging app requires.

"We store information for as long as necessary for the purposes identified in this Privacy Policy, including to provide our Services or for other legitimate purposes, such as complying with legal obligations, enforcing and preventing violations of our Terms, or protecting or defending our rights, property, and users. The storage periods are determined on a case-by-case basis that depends on factors like the nature of the information, why it is collected and processed, relevant legal or operational retention needs, and legal obligations."

WhatsApp provides no concrete retention timelines and uses broad justifications like 'legitimate purposes' to retain data indefinitely on a case-by-case basis.

"We may amend or update our Privacy Policy. We will provide you notice of amendments to this Privacy Policy, as appropriate, and update the "Effective Date" at the top of this Privacy Policy. Please review our Privacy Policy from time to time."

WhatsApp can change its privacy policy at any time with only discretionary notice ('as appropriate') and no requirement for user consent to continue using the service.

"Be mindful that if you only delete WhatsApp from your device without using our in-app delete my account feature, your information will be stored with us for a longer period. Please remember that when you delete your account, it does not affect your information related to the groups you created or the information other users have relating to you, such as their copy of the messages you sent them."

Simply uninstalling the app does not delete user data — users must navigate an in-app process. Even after account deletion, some user data persists in groups and other users' records.