WhatsApp vs Signal vs Telegram vs Facebook: What data do they have on you?

Last week, the potential to change messaging platform, and switch from WhatsApp to Signal, was at the heart of all discussions, following a change in WhatsApp’s privacy policy. User fears were crystallizing around that WhatsApp would share data to its parent company Facebook. The company has clarified the situation, but the damage is done.

But what data do these apps have on you? This seems like a good starting point for comparing services. Fortunately, Apple has made it easier for us by requiring companies to publish their privacy policies and make it clear what they do with your data.

So let’s see what data this gives us for WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram. And for a bit of perspective, let’s also take a look at Facebook.

What data does WhatsApp have on you?

What developer advertising or marketing data does WhatsApp keep?

• Identifiers: device identifier.
• Usage data: advertising data.

What analytics data does WhatsApp keep?

• Purchases: history of purchases.
• Location: approximate location.
• Contact details: telephone number.
• User content: other user content.
• Identifiers: user identifiers, device identifier.
• Usage data: product interaction, advertising data.
• Diagnosis: fault data, performance data, other diagnostic data.

What product personalization data does WhatsApp keep?

• User content: other user content.

What app functionality data does WhatsApp keep?

• Purchases: history of purchases.
• Financial information: payment information.
• Location: approximate location.
• Contact details: e-mail address, telephone number.
• Contacts.
• User content: customer support, other user content.
• Identifiers: user identifiers, device identifier.
• Usage data: interaction with the product.
• Diagnosis: fault data, performance data, other diagnostic data.

What data does WhatsApp keep for other purposes?

• Contact details: telephone number.
• Identifiers: user identifiers, device identifier.
• Usage data: interaction with the product.

What data does Signal have on you?

What app functionality data does Signal keep?

• Contact details: phone number

What data does Telegram have on you?

What app functionality data does Telegram keep?

• Contact details: name, phone number.
• Contacts.
• Identifiers: user identifier.

What data does Facebook have on you?

Data Used to Track You – The following data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies:

• Contact details: physical address, e-mail address, name, telephone number.
• Identifiers: user identifiers, device identifier.
• Other types of data.

Data linking to you – the following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

What third-party ad data does Facebook keep?

• Purchases: history of purchases.
• Financial information: other financial information.
• Location: precise location, approximate location.
• Contact details: physical address, e-mail address, name, telephone number, other contact details of the user.
• Contacts.
• User content: photos or videos, content from gaming experiences, other user content.
• Search history.
• Navigation history.
• Identifiers: user identifiers, device identifier.
• Usage data: interaction with the product, advertising data, other usage data.
• Diagnosis: fault data, performance data, other diagnostic data.
• Other types of data.

What advertising or marketing data does Facebook keep?

• Purchases: history of purchases.
• Financial information: other financial information.
• Location: precise location, approximate location.
• Contact details: physical address, e-mail address, name, telephone number, other contact details of the user.
• Contacts.
• User content: photos or videos, content from gaming experiences, other user content.
• Search history.
• Navigation history.
• Identifiers: user identifiers, device identifier.
• Usage data: interaction with the product, advertising data, other usage data.
• Diagnosis: fault data, performance data, other diagnostic data.
• Other types of data.

What analytics data does Facebook keep?

• Health & fitness: health, physical activity.
• Purchases: history of purchases.
• Financial information: other financial information.
• Location: precise location, approximate location.
• Contact details: physical address, e-mail address, name, telephone number, other contact details of the user.
• Contacts.
• User content: photos or videos, audio data, game experience content, other user content.
• Search history.
• Navigation history.
• Identifiers: user identifiers, device identifier.
• Usage data: interaction with the product, advertising data, other usage data.
• Sensitive information.
• Diagnosis: fault data, performance data, other diagnostic data.
• Other types of data.

What product personalization data does Facebook keep?

• Purchases: history of purchases.
• Financial information: other financial information.
• Location: precise location, approximate location.
• Contact details: physical address, e-mail address, name, telephone number, other contact details of the user.
• Contacts.
• User content: photos or videos, content from gaming experiences, other user content.
• Search history.
• Navigation history.
• Identifiers: user identifiers, device identifier.
• Usage data: interaction with the product, advertising data, other usage data.
• Sensitive information.
• Diagnosis: fault data, performance data, other diagnostic data.
• Other types of data.

What functionality data does the app keep Facebook?

• Health & fitness: health, physical activity.
• Purchases: history of purchases.
• Financial information: payment information, credit information, other financial information.
• Location: precise location, approximate location.
• Contact details: physical address, e-mail address, name, telephone number, other contact details of the user.
• Contacts.
• User content: emails or text messages, photos or videos, audio data, game content, customer support, other user content.
• Search history.
• Navigation history.
• Identifiers: user identifiers, device identifier.
• Usage data: interaction with the product, advertising data, other usage data.
• Sensitive information.
• Diagnosis: fault data, performance data, other diagnostic data.
• Other types of data.

What data does Facebook keep for other purposes?

• Purchases: history of purchases.
• Financial information: other financial information.
• Contact details: physical address, e-mail address, name, telephone number, other contact details of the user.
• Contacts.
• User content: photos or videos, game content, customer support, other user content.
• Search history.
• Navigation history.
• Identifiers: user identifiers, device identifier.
• Usage data: interaction with the product, advertising data, other usage data.
• Sensitive information.
• Diagnosis: fault data, performance data, other diagnostic data.
• Other types of data.

Source: ZDNet.com