WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger collect vast amounts of user data compared to other top messaging apps, according to new privacy labels rolled out by Apple this year

According to a Forbes report (via 9to5Mac), Apple's App Store privacy label, which indicates the specific nature of user data collected by the apps, shows that WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are messaging app alternatives revealed that they collect significantly more types of data than iMessage and Signal

The Facebook Messenger app has 65 different privacy labels spanning third-party advertising, analytics, product personalization, app features, and "other purposes," while WhatsApp has 16

Apple's iMessage, on the other hand, has three labels, while Signal, an encrypted messaging service, has no labels

Some of these may sound familiar to Android users; Android users can see how many permissions each Android app is taking for itself by clicking "See More" under the Permissions heading at the bottom of the app's Google Play page to see how many permissions they are taking for themselves However, Apple's new label is easier to read and more detailed

Facebook oversees both Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, which means it collects the most data of the best chat apps used in the Forbes report Of course, if you know how to use WhatsApp and how to stop Facebook from sharing your data, you have some control over how both apps manage your information But that could soon change

According to a privacy policy update, WhatsApp will no longer be able to choose what data it shares with its parent company starting February 8 WhatsApp users will no longer be able to opt out of this data collection and WhatsApp messaging, calls, and video chat services, and this change will be mandatory for those who wish to continue using the service

Since 2016, WhatsApp had enabled intercommunication with Facebook, but users were given the option to forgo data sharing Now there is no option; WhatsApp messages are encrypted by default, but information about who you are messaging and how often is fair game for Facebook

As the ad war with Apple over user data continues, Facebook has released an FAQ that attempts to justify WhatsApp's collection of user data However, it does not explain why the company's chat app has earned more privacy labels compared to competing programs

The new WhatsApp privacy policy can be found on the WhatsApp website WhatsApp's new privacy policy can be found on the WhatsApp website