How does WhatsApp handle user data?

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WhatsApp handles user data with a focus on providing its services and ensuring user privacy and security. Here's a breakdown of how they manage different types of information:

End-to-End Encrypted Content
Messages, calls, photos, videos, voice notes, documents, and status updates shared in personal chats are protected by end-to-end encryption. This means that only the sender and recipient(s) have the keys to decrypt and read/view this content. Not even WhatsApp or its parent company, Meta, can access it.
Location shared in chats is also end-to-end encrypted, ensuring that only the people you share it with can see it.
Encrypted Backups: Users have the option to enable encrypted backups new zealand whatsapp number data for their chat history on iCloud or Google Drive, adding another layer of security.
Information WhatsApp Collects
WhatsApp collects various categories of data to operate, provide, improve, understand, customize, support, and market their services. This includes:

Account Information: This includes your phone number (necessary to create an account), profile name, profile picture, and "about" information (which is not end-to-end encrypted).
Usage and Log Information: This includes details about your activity on WhatsApp, such as how you use the services, your interactions with others (including businesses), the time, frequency, and duration of your activities, the features you use, whether you are online, your last seen status, and timestamps of messages. It also includes diagnostic, crash, website performance logs, and error reports.

Device and Connection Information: This encompasses 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, and device identifiers.
Location Information: Even if you don't use precise location features, WhatsApp uses IP addresses and phone number area codes to estimate your general location (e.g., country and city). Precise location data is collected only if you grant permission for location-related features.

Cookies: WhatsApp uses cookies to operate and provide their web-based services, improve user experience, understand how the services are used, and customize them.
User Choices: This includes your in-app settings, privacy settings, records of when you accepted terms, push notification preferences, and disappearing messages settings.
Authentication Information: To verify and authorize access to your account (e.g., for encrypted backups), WhatsApp creates and stores authentication codes. This also includes your public encryption keys used for end-to-end encryption.
How WhatsApp Uses Information
The information collected is used for various purposes, including:

Providing and improving services: Operating the app, personalizing features, and developing new ones.
Safety and security: Verifying accounts, combating spam and abuse, and ensuring the integrity of the service.
Communication: Sending service-related announcements and updates.
Analytics and research: Understanding how users interact with the service.
Marketing: Promoting WhatsApp and its features (though personal chats remain private).
Legal compliance: Meeting legal obligations and responding to legal requests.
Sharing of Information
WhatsApp shares information in the following circumstances:

With other users: Information you share publicly or with specific contacts (e.g., profile information, messages, status updates, location).
With Meta Companies: WhatsApp shares certain categories of information with other Meta companies to help operate, provide, improve, understand, customize, support, and market their services. This sharing is subject to limitations, and personal conversations remain end-to-end encrypted.

With third-party service providers: WhatsApp works with third-party providers to assist in areas like data storage, payment processing, analytics, and customer support. These providers are contractually obligated to protect user data.
For legal reasons: WhatsApp may disclose information if required by law, legal process, or governmental request.
With businesses (optional): If you interact with businesses on WhatsApp, they may receive information about your interaction. WhatsApp clearly labels chats with businesses using Meta's hosting services.
User Control and Choices
WhatsApp provides users with controls over their data and privacy settings, allowing them to:

Manage their profile information.
Control who can see their "last seen," profile photo, "about" information, and status updates.
Manage read receipts.
Control who can add them to groups.
Enable disappearing messages.
Enable end-to-end encrypted backups.
Request a report of their account information.
Delete their account.
Data Retention
WhatsApp retains user data only as long as necessary to provide its services and fulfill the purposes outlined in its Privacy Policy. Undelivered messages are typically stored in encrypted form for up to 30 days. When an account is deleted, WhatsApp takes steps to delete the user's information, although some data may be retained for legal or internal purposes.



It's important to review WhatsApp's full Privacy Policy for a comprehensive understanding of how they handle user data. The policy is regularly updated to reflect changes in their practices and legal requirements.


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