The 2021 policy update, despite clarifications, severely damaged user trust. The mandatory nature of the update (outside of Europe) left users feeling coerced, leading many to seek alternatives, highlighting the fragility of trust in digital services.
"Free" Services and Monetization: if you're not paying for the product, you are often, in some form, the product. WhatsApp's business model for individual users relies on its growth and integration into Meta's broader ecosystem, primarily through business features and potential future commerce.
Government Requests: While WhatsApp can't provide message content, it does kazakhstan phone number list provide metadata in response to lawful requests. This metadata can be used by authorities to map social networks and identify individuals involved in specific activities.
Third-Party App Permissions: The interaction between WhatsApp and other apps (e.g., contact syncing with social media) means that users need to be vigilant about the permissions they grant, as their WhatsApp contacts and other data might indirectly enter other ecosystems.