Act now, or Facebook will use your WhatsApp data for ads

FACEBOOK is going to start hoovering up your WhatsApp data and using it for ads. Unless you tell it not to.

WhatsApp has provoked ire by announcing that it is to start sharing its user data with parent company Facebook, despite assurances at the time it was bought that everyone’s data would remain private. The company says the information will be used for ads on Facebook and WhatsApp, and helping improve the messaging platform.

But many people are angry that some of their most personal information – their chats – could potentially be compromised as part of the deal with Facebook. Now it has emerged that there is a hidden way of opting out of the terms, and ensuring that no data is sent over to Facebook. But it has to be done quickly.

There are two main ways of opting out of the new terms, both quite simple.

The first way can only be done if you haven’t accepted the new terms, using the popup that will emerge when you open up WhatsApp. If you haven’t, wait until that happens but don’t click “agree” – instead navigate to the smaller “read more” option, and untick the box that says “Share my WhatsApp account information with Facebook”.

If you’ve already accepted those new terms, you can still opt out – as long as it’s within 30 days. Head to the settings menu in the app, and press on the account tab – there you’ll find a “share my account info” button that you can undress and revoke your permission.

It isn’t clear that opting out of the new terms will change the experience. –The Independent