WhatsApp Sets The Record Straight – Your Data Is Secure And Separate From Facebook

Lately there has been a lot of speculation about WhatsApp after their acquisition by Facebook for $19 Billion USD. Particularly concern using data, security and how information will be shared with Facebook.

WhatsApp Co-Founder and CEO Jan Koum posted a new blog post – “Setting the Record Straight” in which he details his thoughts and policies on WhatsApp’s data and future. Koum goes on to say he wouldn’t have done a deal with Facebook if it meant changing the way user data is protected:

If partnering with Facebook meant that we had to change our values, we wouldn’t have done it. Instead, we are forming a partnership that would allow us to continue operating independently and autonomously. Our fundamental values and beliefs will not change. Our principles will not change. Everything that has made WhatsApp the leader in personal messaging will still be in place. Speculation to the contrary isn’t just baseless and unfounded, it’s irresponsible. It has the effect of scaring people into thinking we’re suddenly collecting all kinds of new data. That’s just not true, and it’s important to us that you know that.

These are interesting words from the WhatsApp Co-Founder, particularly as in February a privacy group in the US, the Electronic Privacy Information Center and the Center for Digital Democracy filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The privacy groups claimed that the privacy of current WhatsApp users will be affected by Facebook’s use of their information.