.png)
7 months ago
61 BOOK THIS SPACE FOR AD
ARTICLE ADOver the past week or so we've seen a lot of chatter about people shifting their messaging platform from WhatsApp to Signal as a result of fallout from a change to its privacy policy. People were concerned that WhatsApp was going to start funneling data to its parent company Facebook.
There's been subsequent clarification, but the damage has been done.
But what data do these apps have about you? That seems like a good place to start when comparing services.
Also: Best VPNs • Best security keys
And fortunately, Apple has made this easier for us by requiring that companies publish their privacy policies and come clean about what they do with your data.
So, let's take a look at what information this gives us on WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram. And for a bit of perspective, let's also look at Facebook.
Data linked to you - The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:
Developer's Advertising or Marketing
Identifiers
Device IDUsage Data
Advertising DataAnalytics
Purchases
Purchase HistoryLocation
Coarse LocationContact Info
Phone NumberUser Content
Other User ContentIdentifiers
User IDDevice IDUsage Data
Product InteractionAdvertising DataDiagnostics
Crash DataPerformance DataOther Diagnostic DataProduct Personalization
User Content
Other User ContentApp Functionality
Purchases
Purchase HistoryFinancial Info
Payment InfoLocation
Coarse LocationContact Info
Email AddressPhone NumberContacts
ContactsUser Content
Customer SupportOther User ContentIdentifiers
User IDDevice IDUsage Data
Product InteractionDiagnostics
Crash DataPerformance DataOther Diagnostic DataOther Purposes
Contact Info
Phone NumberIdentifiers
User IDDevice IDUsage Data
Product InteractionSignal
Data not linked to you: The following data, which may be collected but is not linked to your identity, may be used for the following purposes:
App Functionality
Contact Info
Phone NumberTelegram
Data linked to you - The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:
App Functionality
Contact Info
NamePhone NumberContacts
ContactsIdentifiers
User IDUsing iOS 14 to diagnose battery drain
Data used to track you - The following data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies:
Other Data
Other Data TypesContact Info
Physical AddressEmail AddressNamePhone NumberIdentifiers
User IDDevice IDData linked to you - The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:
Third-Party Advertising
Purchases
Purchase HistoryFinancial Info
Other Financial InfoLocation
Precise LocationCoarse LocationContact Info
Physical AddressEmail AddressNamePhone NumberOther User Contact InfoContacts
ContactsUser Content
Photos or VideosGameplay ContentOther User ContentSearch History
Search HistoryBrowsing History
Browsing HistoryIdentifiers
User IDDevice IDUsage Data
Product InteractionAdvertising DataOther Usage DataDiagnostics
Crash DataPerformance DataOther Diagnostic DataOther Data
Other Data TypesDeveloper's Advertising or Marketing
Purchases
Purchase HistoryFinancial Info
Other Financial InfoLocation
Precise LocationCoarse LocationContact Info
Physical AddressEmail AddressNamePhone NumberOther User Contact InfoContacts
ContactsUser Content
Photos or VideosGameplay ContentOther User ContentSearch History
Search HistoryBrowsing History
Browsing HistoryIdentifiers
User IDDevice IDUsage Data
Product InteractionAdvertising DataOther Usage DataDiagnostics
Crash DataPerformance DataOther Diagnostic DataOther Data
Other Data TypesAnalytics
Health & Fitness
HealthFitnessPurchases
Purchase HistoryFinancial Info
Payment InfoOther Financial InfoLocation
Precise LocationCoarse LocationContact Info
Physical AddressEmail AddressNamePhone NumberOther User Contact InfoContacts
ContactsUser Content
Photos or VideosAudio DataGameplay ContentCustomer SupportOther User ContentSearch History
Search HistoryBrowsing History
Browsing HistoryIdentifiers
User IDDevice IDUsage Data
Product InteractionAdvertising DataOther Usage DataSensitive Info
Sensitive InfoDiagnostics
Crash DataPerformance DataOther Diagnostic DataOther Data
Other Data TypesProduct Personalization
Purchases
Purchase HistoryFinancial Info
Other Financial InfoLocation
Precise LocationCoarse LocationContact Info
Physical AddressEmail AddressNamePhone NumberOther User Contact InfoContacts
ContactsUser Content
Photos or VideosGameplay ContentOther User ContentSearch History
Search HistoryBrowsing History
Browsing HistoryIdentifiers
User IDDevice IDUsage Data
Product InteractionAdvertising DataOther Usage DataSensitive Info
Sensitive InfoDiagnostics
Crash DataPerformance DataOther Diagnostic DataOther Data
Other Data TypesApp Functionality
Health & Fitness
HealthFitnessPurchases
Purchase HistoryFinancial Info
Payment InfoCredit InfoOther Financial InfoLocation
Precise LocationCoarse LocationContact Info
Physical AddressEmail AddressNamePhone NumberOther User Contact InfoContacts
ContactsUser Content
Emails or Text MessagesPhotos or VideosAudio DataGameplay ContentCustomer SupportOther User ContentSearch History
Search HistoryBrowsing History
Browsing HistoryIdentifiers
User IDDevice IDUsage Data
Product InteractionAdvertising DataOther Usage DataSensitive Info
Sensitive InfoDiagnostics
Crash DataPerformance DataOther Diagnostic DataOther Data
Other Data TypesOther Purposes
Purchases
Purchase HistoryFinancial Info
Other Financial InfoLocation
Precise LocationCoarse LocationContact Info
Physical AddressEmail AddressNamePhone NumberOther User Contact InfoContacts
ContactsUser Content
Photos or VideosGameplay ContentCustomer SupportOther User ContentSearch History
Search HistoryBrowsing History
Browsing HistoryIdentifiers
User IDDevice IDUsage Data
Product InteractionAdvertising DataOther Usage DataDiagnostics
Crash DataPerformance DataOther Diagnostic DataOther Data
Other Data Types
Bengali (Bangladesh) · 
English (United States) ·