In the EU, there are standards that must be adhered to, but it’s unclear what privacy standards Meta will maintain or discard in other parts of the world. Their “free” WhatsApp messenger monetizes by collecting user data, including device information, contacts’ phone numbers, and usage patterns. This data collection also allows them to pinpoint your location and share this information with Facebook.

Outside the EU, Meta could potentially use other apps to supplement these data points. It has been well documented that WhatsApp/Meta has shared this data with authorities when required in the past. This move doesn’t give me the warm and fuzzies.