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Plain-English summary
The privacy policy outlines that WhatsApp collects various information to operate and market its services (data_use-1), requiring your mobile phone number for account creation (data_use-2). Messages are generally not stored on servers after delivery (data_use-3), but undelivered messages are kept encrypted for up to 30 days (data_use-4), and forwarded media is temporarily stored in encrypted form for efficient delivery (data_use-5).
However, there are some important considerations:
* Your information might be transferred to other countries like the United States, which may have different privacy laws (risk_flags-1).
* When messaging businesses, your content may be visible to multiple people within that business and potentially to Meta or other third-party service providers (risk_flags-2).
* Any user can capture screenshots or record calls and share them widely (risk_flags-3).
Regarding account deletion:
* Deleting your account removes undelivered messages and certain info like profile photos and message history, and you are removed from groups (cancellation_renewal-1).
* Simply deleting the app without using the in-app delete feature will result in your information being stored for a longer period (cancellation_renewal-2).
* Account deletion does not affect information related to groups you created or messages other users have saved (cancellation_renewal-3).
90% confidence
Risk Flags
Findings that identify potential legal, security, privacy or other risks. These are often indicators of user hostility and should be reviewed carefully.
high95% confidence confidence
Your information may be transferred to other countries with different privacy laws
Your information may be transferred or stored in the United States or other countries with different privacy laws and protections than your home country.
Why it matters: Your personal data may be subject to different privacy laws and protections if it is transferred to countries outside your home country, including the United States.
WhatsApp uses Meta’s global infrastructure and data centers, including in the United States. These transfers are necessary to provide the global Services set forth in our Terms. Please keep in mind that the countries or territories to which your information is transferred may have different privacy laws and protections than what you have in your home country or territory.
Our Global Operations, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
high90% confidence confidence
Your messages may be visible to multiple people within a business
When you message with a business on WhatsApp, the content you share may be visible to several people in that business. Additionally, some businesses might use third-party service providers (potentially including Meta) to manage their communications, which means those providers could access, store, read, or process your messages.
Why it matters: Messages sent to businesses could be seen by multiple individuals within the business and potentially by third-party service providers, reducing the privacy of your communications with businesses.
When you message with a business on WhatsApp, keep in mind that the content you share may be visible to several people in that business. In addition, some businesses might be working with third-party service providers (which may include Meta) to help manage their communications with their customers. For example, a business may give such third-party service provider access to its communications to send, store, read, manage, or otherwise process them for the business. To understand how a business processes your information, including how it might share your information with third parties or Meta, you should review that business’ privacy policy or contact the business directly.
Other users can capture and share your messages and calls
Any user can capture screenshots of your chats or messages or make recordings of your calls with them and send them to WhatsApp or anyone else, or post them on another platform.
Why it matters: Conversations and media you share through the service can be easily recorded and shared by others without your knowledge or consent.
You should keep in mind that in general any user can capture screenshots of your chats or messages or make recordings of your calls with them and send them to WhatsApp or anyone else, or post them on another platform.
Clarifies what data is collected, why it is collected, and how it is used. This section also includes information about data sharing and retention.
low90% confidence confidence
WhatsApp collects various data points to operate and improve its services.
WhatsApp receives or collects information to operate, provide, improve, understand, customize, support, and market its Services, including when you install, access, or use them.
Why it matters: Your data is collected to ensure the service functions properly and is continuously enhanced, but also for marketing purposes.
WhatsApp must receive or collect some information to operate, provide, improve, understand, customize, support, and market our Services, including when you install, access, or use our Services.
Information We Collect, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
low95% confidence confidence
Your phone number is required to use the services.
You must provide your mobile phone number to create an account and use the Services.
Why it matters: You cannot create an account or use the service without providing your mobile phone number.
For example, you must provide your mobile phone number to create an account to use our Services.
Information We Collect, paragraph 2 · Citation strength: strong
low90% confidence confidence
Messages are typically not stored on WhatsApp servers after delivery.
WhatsApp does not usually keep your messages on its servers. Messages are stored on your device and are deleted from their servers once delivered.
Why it matters: Your delivered messages are not typically retained on the service's servers, enhancing privacy by keeping communication data primarily on your device.
We do not retain your messages in the ordinary course of providing our Services to you. Instead, your messages are stored on your device and not typically stored on our servers. Once your messages are delivered, they are deleted from our servers.
Information You Provide, paragraph 2 · Citation strength: strong
low90% confidence confidence
Undelivered messages are temporarily stored in encrypted form.
If a message cannot be delivered immediately (e.g., if the recipient is offline), it is kept in encrypted form on WhatsApp servers for up to 30 days while delivery is attempted. If still undelivered after 30 days, it is deleted.
Why it matters: Your messages are held in an encrypted state for a limited time if they can't be delivered immediately, ensuring privacy while waiting for the recipient to become available.
If a message cannot be delivered immediately (for example, if the recipient is offline), we keep it in encrypted form on our servers for up to 30 days as we try to deliver it. If a message is still undelivered after 30 days, we delete it.
Information You Provide, paragraph 2 · Citation strength: strong
low90% confidence confidence
Media for forwarding is temporarily stored in encrypted form.
When a user forwards media in a message, that media is temporarily stored in encrypted form on WhatsApp servers to help deliver future forwards more efficiently.
Why it matters: Media you forward is temporarily stored in an encrypted format to improve delivery efficiency for subsequent forwards, but this storage is temporary.
When a user forwards media within a message, we store that media temporarily in encrypted form on our servers to aid in more efficient delivery of additional forwards.
Information You Provide, paragraph 2 · Citation strength: strong
Cancellation & Renewal
Details regarding the cancellation of services or subscriptions, and how renewals are handled.
low90% confidence confidence
Deleting your account removes undelivered messages and certain information.
When you delete your WhatsApp account, undelivered messages are deleted from the servers, along with other information no longer needed to operate and provide the Services. This includes your account info, profile photo, removal from all WhatsApp groups, and message history.
Why it matters: Deleting your account will remove your undelivered messages, account information, profile photo, and message history, and you will be removed from all WhatsApp groups.
When you delete your WhatsApp account, your undelivered messages are deleted from our servers as well as any of your other information we no longer need to operate and provide our Services. Deleting your account will, for example, delete your account info and profile photo, delete you from all WhatsApp groups, and delete your WhatsApp message history.
Managing And Retaining Your Information, paragraph 4 · Citation strength: strong
low90% confidence confidence
Deleting the app without using the in-app feature means your information will be stored longer.
If you only delete WhatsApp from your device without using the in-app "delete my account" feature, your information will be stored for a longer period.
Why it matters: Simply deleting the app does not fully remove your data from WhatsApp's servers, which means your information will be stored for a longer time than if you use the in-app delete feature.
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.
Managing And Retaining Your Information, paragraph 4 · Citation strength: strong
low90% confidence confidence
Account deletion does not affect group information or messages saved by other users.
When you delete your account, it does not affect information related to groups you created or information other users have about you, such as their copies of messages you sent them.
Why it matters: Deleting your account will not remove your created groups or messages that other users have saved, meaning some of your information may persist elsewhere even after account deletion.
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.
Managing And Retaining Your Information, paragraph 4 · Citation strength: strong
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