What Does Whatsapp Collect? Key Privacy Facts Users Should Know

Quick Summary

What They Collect: Phone number, profile info, messages, device identifiers, metadata, location (if enabled).
How They Use & Share It: Operate service, improve features, safety, business messaging; share across Meta and service providers.
Your Rights: Access, correct, delete account, request account info, manage business communications and blocking.

Why You Should Care About Whatsapp's Privacy Practices

WhatsApp collects high‑risk metadata (who you contact, timestamps, device IDs) that enables detailed behavioral profiling across Meta products.
Business chat integrations and third‑party backups can expose message content to external systems, reducing end‑to‑end privacy in practice.
Global data transfers and shared Meta infrastructure mean your data may be processed in jurisdictions with different privacy laws.
Account deletion doesn’t remove copies others hold or some backups; be cautious about sensitive communications and contact handling.

Privacy Highlights

What They Collect

Account information (mobile phone number, profile name, profile photo, "about")
User content and files (messages, media, status updates)
Demographic information (age requirement, inferred location via phone number area code)
Feedback data (support requests, reports, customer support transcripts)
Payment information and transaction data (when using payments services)

How They Share Data

Business affiliates (other Meta Companies and affiliated entities)
Service providers (technical infrastructure, delivery, cybersecurity, customer support)
Third-party partners (businesses using WhatsApp, integrated third-party services like iCloud/Google Drive)
Advertising partners / cross‑product ad systems within Meta (for showing relevant offers across Meta products)

Data Retention

Undelivered messages stored encrypted for up to 30 days; other information is retained 'as long as necessary' for service, legal, security, or operational needs, determined case-by-case; account deletion removes many items but not copies others hold

Your Rights

Access data (Request Account Info / in-app export feature)
Rectify data (change mobile number, profile name/photo, "about")
Erase or limit processing (delete WhatsApp account via in-app delete feature)
Object to processing / Withdraw consent (account deletion may be used to revoke consent where applicable)

Detailed Analysis

Concerning Practices

Shares data widely within the Meta Companies and with third-party service providers, increasing cross‑product profiling risk
Collects extensive metadata and device identifiers that can be used for behavioral profiling and ad targeting across Meta products
Business conversations and business third parties may store, read, or process messages (possible loss of end‑to‑end privacy for business chats)
Transfers data internationally to Meta’s global infrastructure and third parties, exposing data to differing legal regimes
Deletion is limited: deleting your account removes many records but not copies other users hold or data required for legal obligations
Arbitration and strict limitation-of-liability clauses restrict users’ legal remedies in some jurisdictions (US/Canada arbitration provision)

Personal Data Types

Account information (mobile phone number, profile name, profile photo, "about") User content and files (messages, media, status updates) Demographic information (age requirement, inferred location via phone number area code) Feedback data (support requests, reports, customer support transcripts) Payment information and transaction data (when using payments services) Profile information (group names, group pictures, status) Sales and marketing data (business interactions, catalog and commerce metadata) Support data (diagnostic logs, crash reports, help-center interactions) Browser information (browser type, app version, operating system) Geolocation information (precise location if you opt in; approximated via IP/area code) Service usage information (features used, timestamps, call/message metadata, last seen) Website usage data and cookies (web/desktop cookies, preferences) Information from other users (contacts uploading your number, copies of messages they hold) Publicly available information (information shared publicly by you or visible to other users)

Tracking Methods

Essential cookies (used for web/desktop sessions and service operation) Analytics cookies / usage & log files (used to understand service use and improve features) Device identifiers (identifiers unique to Meta Company Products and app-specific IDs) IP addresses and connection data (used for diagnostics and approximate location)

Third Parties

Business affiliates (other Meta Companies and affiliated entities) Service providers (technical infrastructure, delivery, cybersecurity, customer support) Third-party partners (businesses using WhatsApp, integrated third-party services like iCloud/Google Drive) Advertising partners / cross‑product ad systems within Meta (for showing relevant offers across Meta products) Government authorities and law enforcement (in response to legal process and safety investigations)

User Controls

Access data (Request Account Info / in-app export feature) Rectify data (change mobile number, profile name/photo, "about") Erase or limit processing (delete WhatsApp account via in-app delete feature) Object to processing / Withdraw consent (account deletion may be used to revoke consent where applicable) Data portability (Request Account Info feature to access/port information) Opt-out of marketing / Manage business communications (manage choices for business messages and settings) Block or manage contacts and groups (in-app block feature and group controls)

Whatsapp Privacy Summary