[an4rchy]

An interesting strategy from Facebook.

Although the privacy related changes were somewhat expected, the timing and aggresive timeline will likely play out in Facebook's favor.

While giving users a 1 month grace period to either comply (share their data) or delete their account already seems like a pretty aggressive window that limits the ability for users to fully assess options or migrate existing groups/chats to alternative platforms, the short timeline combined with the on-going pandemic, and the fact that WhatsApp has become one of the primary means of communication for many around the world will likely lead to a very limited drop in users leaving the platform as a result of this policy change.

Beyond Febuary, once users have already shared their data, there is likely minimal incentive for groups or individuals to overcome the network effects and move to another platform in the short term.

[beagle3]

I’d be surprised if this isn’t just whitewashing some previously shared data.

Also, a preparation for antitrust action - once the data is shared and integrated, even if they are forced to separate WhatsApp, they have all the metadata (which takes 3-5 years to become stale) and now they will have it “legally” (sadly, this extortion is indeed legal. It shouldn’t be)

[knodi123]

> to either comply (share their data) or delete their account

Isn't WhatsApp still purportedly end-to-end encrypted? What data is "on the table" when it comes to sharing - just contact lists and phone numbers?

[randoantimine]

> Isn't WhatsApp still purportedly end-to-end encrypted? What data is "on the table" when it comes to sharing - just contact lists and phone numbers?

It is, and same is claimed in their privacy policy and ToS. According to the original article it will include, what is already being collected:

    User phone numbers
    Other people’s phone numbers stored in address books
    Profile names
    Profile pictures and
    Status message including when a user was last online
    Diagnostic data collected from app logs

Along with possibly:

    Purchases
    Financial information
    Location
    Contacts
    User content
    Identifiers
    Usage data and
    Diagnostics

A little more than contact lists and phone numbers.