WhatsApp will begin sharing users’ numbers with Facebook

SAN FRANCISCO— Global messaging service WhatsApp says it will start sharing its users’ phone numbers with parent company Facebook. That means WhatsApp users could soon start seeing more targeted ads on Facebook — although not on the messaging service itself.

WhatsApp has long promised to safeguard the privacy of more than one billion users. WhatsApp is giving users a limited time to opt out of sharing their information with Facebook, although they must uncheck a box to do so. It says Facebook won’t post phone numbers online or give them out.

But the giant social network has been looking to make money from WhatsApp since it bought the service two years ago.

Facebook has pledged not to inter fere with a long-standing promise by WhatsApp’s co-founders to respect users’ privacy and keep ads off its messaging platform. WhatsApp on Thursday offered a glimpse of its plans, releasing documents that describe the company’s privacy policy and the terms of service that users must agree to follow.

Companies could also send marketing offers or messages about sales to individual customers, according to the documents, which note that users will be able to control or block such messages.

Another change is potentially more controversial: WhatsApp says it will be “co-ordinating” accounts with Facebook by sharing users’ mobile numbers and device information, such as the type of operating system and other smartphone characteristics.

The company says Facebook will employ the phone number internally to better identify WhatsApp users on Facebook, so it can recommend friends or show targeted advertising.

WhatsApp says current users have up to 30 days to accept the new policy terms or stop using the service. Once they accept, they have 30 more days to opt out of sharing with Facebook.