ITRealms:
Acclaimed global messaging service (GMS)
known as WhatsApp has disclosed plans to share the phone numbers of its users
with Facebook, its parent company with undertone to show targeted adverts, reports
ITRealms.
This
follows the recent acquisition of WhatsApp by Facebook in October 2014, to the
tune of $21.9bn,
about N6,872,450,000,000
trillion.
The
latest disclosure on sharing of WhatsApp users’ mobile phone numbers, ITRealms
gathered means WhatsApp users would soon start to see more targeted ads and
Facebook friend suggestions on Facebook based on WhatsApp information.
This,
industry watchers said may not be on the messaging service itself but for the
likes of web version of WhatsApp.
According
to the Associated Press (AP), the move is a subtle but significant shift for
WhatsApp, used by over a 1 billion people across the world.
ITRealms recalls that at the time of acquisition by Facebook for an eye-popping $21.8
billion two years ago, executives promised privacy would be safeguarded.
"This
is a strong-arm tactic on the part of Facebook," said Jeff Chester,
executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy in Washington, D.C.
"They continue on a campaign on to run roughshod on our privacy
rights."
AP
further revealed that WhatsApp is giving users a limited time to opt out of sharing their
information with Facebook, although warranting their extra step of unchecking a
box to do so.
WhatsApp
officials hinted that Facebook would not post phone numbers online or give them
out to anyone.
Nenye Dom/GEE
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