Categories of Data WhatsApp Collects

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WhatsApp's Privacy Policy, updated periodically, outlines the specific types of information it collects. These categories are broadly consistent globally, though the use and sharing of this data can vary by region.

Information You Provide to WhatsApp:

Account Information:
Phone Number: This is the primary identifier and is mandatory for creating and maintaining a WhatsApp account.
Profile Information: This includes the profile name you choose, your profile picture (optional), and your "About" information (status message, optional).
Registration Information: Details about when you registered and the india phone number list terms you accepted.
Your Connections (Contacts):
WhatsApp requests permission to access your device's address book. It then uploads the phone numbers from your contacts (in a cryptographically hashed format) to its servers. This is done to quickly identify which of your contacts are also WhatsApp users, allowing you to connect with them within the app.
WhatsApp explicitly states it does not store your contact lists with Meta or share them for Meta's own purposes (like ad targeting on Facebook/Instagram) for individuals.