1. WhatsApp has updated its privacy policy to show how it shares data with Facebook brands.
  2. Most of the sharing is meant to help integration and safety.
  3. It also helps improve behind-the-scenes systems.
Want to know how WhatsApp shares information with its Facebook siblings? The messaging giant is happy to explain. WhatsApp has updated its privacy policy, which includes a section on how it shares data with other Facebook brands, such as Instagram.

As you can imagine, WhatsApp shares data largely for convenience and security. This helps improve your "experiences" with other Facebook services, such as suggesting friends and content, personalizing features, and helping you make purchases. For example, you can link your Facebook Pay account to complete a transaction, or chat on portal devices.


Other tie-ins are more vital. They help push “safety, security and integrity,” such as dealing with abuse and spam. They’ll also help WhatsApp improve its infrastructure and delivery systems, and help you understand how both its services and other Facebook products work.

There isn’t much detail in WhatsApp’s new privacy section, but there aren’t any shocking revelations, either. The chat service is outlining functionality you’d likely expect. Still, this is a reminder that WhatsApp is just one part of a larger Facebook ecosystem, and that your data won’t necessarily stay within the service — worth noting, even if your data won’t travel very far.