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WhatsApp Will Send Facebook Inc. (FB) Your Phone Number

WhatsApp, the global messaging firm owned by Facebook Inc. (FB), has an important question for you: Can I have your number?

The company will soon give Facebook the phone numbers and device details of WhatsApp users, a marked difference from its pledge to protect the privacy of its users, reports the Associated Press. Users have the ability to stop WhatsApp from sending these details to Facebook, but only for a limited time.

This move is part of a larger privacy policy update from the company. This is the first time these policies have been updated since 2012 and prior to Facebook’s purchase of WhatsApp in 2014. Facebook has since been seeking avenues to monetize WhatsApp.

Facebook will use these phone numbers to find WhatsApp Facebook users in order to target ads on Facebook and suggest friends. The Associated Press points out these numbers would be worthwhile to Facebook, considering users don’t have to give their phone numbers when creating a profile.

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On the other hand, current phone numbers are integral to WhatsApp’s service.

Users must OK the policy changes in order to keep accessing WhatsApp and have 30 days to do so, followed by a second 30 days to stop WhatsApp from releasing their phone number to Facebook.

FB’s stock was up 0.6 percent Thursday. On the year so far, the stock had traded up approximately 18.7 percent.

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