Here’s What Data WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, iMessage & Telegram Collects From You

Questions around user data collection done by messaging apps have skyrocketed ever since WhatsApp has recently updated its privacy policy. The new Privacy Policy allows WhatsApp to better integrate WhatsApp with other apps like Facebook, Instagram, Rooms, etc.

The policy, ever since it has been released, is being questioned by many with some vowing to not use WhatsApp ever again while others making memes about it. Have a look:

User's privacy and data in #WhatsApp
be like : pic.twitter.com/jU3SIqzx3P

— humour dead (@rehaandp) January 6, 2021

Me without reading #WhatsApp new terms and privacy, clicking on agree button – pic.twitter.com/6UIghbXWmU

— Rahul Pandey (@rahulrpandey8) January 6, 2021

After new update of whatsapp privacy policies. #Telegram pic.twitter.com/70i7DDCzzR

— Afzal Ahmed | NFT | Crypto (@DigitalAfzal) January 7, 2021

Hilarious
#Telegram #WhatsApp pic.twitter.com/CdaNAEUkwL

— ???????????? (@TRSaranathan) January 7, 2021

After agree the terms and conditions of #WhatsApp, people. pic.twitter.com/jqV0628Gq5

— A K i B (@akibaliii) January 6, 2021

#Telegram employees watching #WhatsApp destroy itself pic.twitter.com/2Mfx1WN0hp

— Deepash Shukla (@sab_mein_expert) January 7, 2021

https://twitter.com/Ssrfan478780364/status/1346668657854713857

https://twitter.com/corona_warrior/status/1346665586646945795

https://twitter.com/jhampakjhum/status/1346669545918877696

When I opened #WhatsApp this morning and it be like .. pic.twitter.com/jyYLoqRcwF

— Raj Mishra (@psyrajmishra) January 6, 2021

Amidst the talks around the new privacy policy, Apple has released its Apple’s privacy labels update revealing the huge amount of data that WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger collects when compared with iMessage, Signal and Telegram.

From purchase history, financial information, location details, to contacts, phone number, email address both Facebook and WhatsApp collects both unique and sensitive information from its users raising question over its business model.

Here’s all the data that WhatsApp collects from its users:

• Device ID
• User ID
• Advertising Data
• Purchase History
• Coarse Location
• Phone Number
• Email Address
• Contacts
• Product Interaction
• Crash Data
• Performance Data
• Other Diagnostic Data
• Payment Info
• Customer Support
• Product Interaction
• Other User Content

Here’s all the data that Facebook Messenger collects from its users:

• Purchase History
• Other Financial Info
• Precise Location
• Coarse Location
• Physical Address
• Email Address
• Name
• Phone Number
• Other User Contact Info
• Contacts
• Photos or Videos
• Gameplay Content
• Other User Content
• Search History
• Browsing History
• User ID
• Device ID
• Product Interaction
• Advertising Data
• Other Usage Data
• Crash Data
• Performance Data
• Other Diagnostic Data
• Other Data Types
• Browsing History
• Health
• Fitness
• Payment Info
• Photos or Videos
• Audio Data
• Gameplay Content
• Customer Support
• Other User Content
• Search History
• Sensitive Info
• iMessage
• Email address
• Phone number Search history
• Device ID

Meanwhile, Apple’s iMessage collect only required data and doesn’t infringe one’s privacy.

• Email Address
• Phone Number
• Search History
• Device ID

The Signal app doesn’t collect any information from its users.

• None. (The only personal data Signal stores is your phone number, and it makes no attempt to link that to your identity.)

Telegram collects minimal data from its users besides providing users much more than what WhatsApp could ever dream of.

• Contact Info
• Contacts
• User ID

Facebook has often comprised a user’s privacy and is often criticised for curbing competition using money power. It is accused of buying out apps that it believes hold the potential to influence the masses and cut Facebook apps (Instagram, WhatsApp, etc) user base.