WhatsApp Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
WhatsApp is a messaging app that allows users to send end-to-end encrypted messages, make voice and video calls, share media, and communicate with businesses across devices.
Analyzed June 19, 2026
Key findings
Summary
WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption for message content but collects substantial metadata, device, usage, and location information, and shares data across Meta Companies for advertising and product improvement purposes. The company retains broad rights to suspend or terminate accounts at its discretion, and US/Canada users are subject to mandatory arbitration with a class-action waiver, though an opt-out and small claims carveout are provided.
Category Breakdown
WhatsApp collects account, device, log, usage, and location data, with end-to-end encryption for message content but broader collection of metadata and unencrypted profile/account info shared with Meta Companies.
From: PRIVACY POLICYAs part of the Meta Companies, WhatsApp receives information from, and shares information with, the Meta Companies as described in WhatsApp's Privacy Policy, including...to improve your ads and products experience across the Meta Company Products.View source document
Information is shared with Meta Companies to improve ads and products across the family of apps, plus service providers and business partners, representing cross-service profiling for advertising purposes.
From: TERMS OF SERVICEto ensure security, safety, and integrity across the Meta Company Products; and to improve your ads and products experience across the Meta Company Products.View source document
Users retain ownership of their content but grant WhatsApp a broad worldwide, sublicensable, transferable license limited to operating and providing the service.
From: TERMS OF SERVICEyou grant WhatsApp a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to use, reproduce, distribute, create derivative works of, display, and perform the information (including the content) that you upload, submit, store, send, or receive on or through our Services.View source document
WhatsApp may modify, suspend, or terminate a user's access at any time for any reason without a defined notice or appeal process.
From: TERMS OF SERVICEWe may modify, suspend, or terminate your access to or use of our Services anytime for any reason, such as if you violate the letter or spirit of our Terms or create harm, risk, or possible legal exposure for us, our users, or others.View source document
Mandatory individual arbitration applies to US/Canada users with a class-action waiver, jury waiver, small claims carveout, and a 30-day opt-out window; other users are subject to a California court venue and governing law clause.
From: TERMS OF SERVICEYOU AND WE AGREE TO SUBMIT ALL DISPUTES TO BINDING INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATION, EXCEPT FOR THOSE THAT INVOLVE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DISPUTES AND EXCEPT THOSE THAT CAN BE BROUGHT IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT.View source document
The core WhatsApp messaging service described is free to use with no subscription, auto-renewal, or billing terms in this document.