WhatsApp to share user data with Facebook for targeting

In an announcement on the company’s blog, WhatsApp said it was updating its terms and privacy policy for the first time in four years, as part of its plans to "test ways for people to communicate with businesses in the months ahead".

WhatsApp will also share user data with the Facebook ‘family of companies', which includes Instagram and Oculus Rift. 

"[...] by coordinating more with Facebook, we'll be able to do things like track basic metrics about how often people use our services and better fight spam on WhatsApp," the blog post read.

"And by connecting your phone number with Facebook’s systems, Facebook can offer better friend suggestions and show you more relevant ads if you have an account with them. For example, you might see an ad from a company you already work with, rather than one from someone you've never heard of."