{
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "generatedAt": "2026-05-07T14:40:55.301Z",
  "findingType": "lie",
  "findingId": 6,
  "contentHash": "2099446adf1bb8439184a21f1740203bc9acd9e8505b02fa4cdc75ab1eabfacb",
  "title": "WhatsApp founders: 'Respect for your privacy is coded into our DNA' — no Facebook data sharing",
  "summary": "WhatsApp promised: \"Respect for your privacy is coded into our DNA … Above all else, I want to make sure you understand how deeply I value the principle of private communication. … We have not, we do not and we will not ever sell your personal information to anyone.\" (Wed Feb 19 2014 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)). 2 documented violation(s). Severity: major.",
  "methodology": "Documented promises are sourced from public statements, filings, and transcripts. Each promise must have a non-empty source URL. Violations are independently sourced with evidence strength tiers. The time delta (days after promise) quantifies the gap between commitment and breach. Materiality assessment includes financial cost, people affected, and environmental impact where applicable.",
  "sources": [
    {
      "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20140220062012/https://blog.whatsapp.com/499/Setting-the-record-straight",
      "label": "WhatsApp blog, 19 February 2014 (archived)",
      "type": "primary"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/aug/25/whatsapp-backs-down-facebook-data-sharing",
      "label": "The Guardian, 25 August 2016",
      "type": "primary"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.dataprotection.ie/en/news-media/press-releases/data-protection-commission-announces-decision-whatsapp-inquiry",
      "label": "Irish Data Protection Commission, 2 September 2021",
      "type": "primary"
    }
  ],
  "queries": [
    {
      "description": "Promise record with entity",
      "table": "documented_promises",
      "parameters": {
        "id": 6
      }
    },
    {
      "description": "Promise violations",
      "table": "promise_violations",
      "parameters": {
        "promiseId": 6
      }
    }
  ],
  "dataSnapshot": {
    "promiseId": "6",
    "slug": "whatsapp-never-share-with-facebook-2014",
    "entityId": "31232",
    "entityName": "WhatsApp",
    "headline": "WhatsApp founders: 'Respect for your privacy is coded into our DNA' — no Facebook data sharing",
    "promiseText": "Respect for your privacy is coded into our DNA … Above all else, I want to make sure you understand how deeply I value the principle of private communication. … We have not, we do not and we will not ever sell your personal information to anyone.",
    "promiseDate": "2014-02-19T00:00:00.000Z",
    "promiseSourceUrl": "https://web.archive.org/web/20140220062012/https://blog.whatsapp.com/499/Setting-the-record-straight",
    "audience": "general_public",
    "domain": "privacy",
    "severity": "major",
    "status": "violated",
    "narrative": "When Facebook acquired WhatsApp in 2014, founders Jan Koum and Brian Acton publicly pledged that user data would never be shared with Facebook. Two years later WhatsApp updated its terms of service to share user phone numbers and metadata with Facebook for ad-targeting and 'business analytics'.",
    "financialCostUsd": null,
    "peopleAffectedEstimate": null,
    "violations": [
      {
        "id": "12",
        "violationText": "WhatsApp updates its terms of service to share user phone numbers and account information with Facebook for advertising.",
        "violationDate": "2016-08-25T00:00:00.000Z",
        "violationSourceUrl": "https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/aug/25/whatsapp-backs-down-facebook-data-sharing",
        "evidenceStrength": "primary",
        "daysAfterPromise": "918"
      },
      {
        "id": "13",
        "violationText": "EU regulators fine WhatsApp €225 million for failing to disclose how it shares user data with other Facebook companies.",
        "violationDate": "2021-09-02T00:00:00.000Z",
        "violationSourceUrl": "https://www.dataprotection.ie/en/news-media/press-releases/data-protection-commission-announces-decision-whatsapp-inquiry",
        "evidenceStrength": "primary",
        "daysAfterPromise": "2752"
      }
    ],
    "createdAt": "2026-05-03T09:29:14.719Z"
  },
  "entities": [
    {
      "id": "31232",
      "name": "WhatsApp",
      "slug": "whatsapp",
      "type": "company"
    }
  ],
  "verificationSteps": [
    "Retrieve documented promise #6 from documented_promises.",
    "Visit promise source: https://web.archive.org/web/20140220062012/https://blog.whatsapp.com/499/Setting-the-record-straight — confirm the original commitment was made.",
    "Violation #1 (Thu Aug 25 2016 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)): visit https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/aug/25/whatsapp-backs-down-facebook-data-sharing — confirm \"WhatsApp updates its terms of service to share user phone numbers and account information with Facebook for advertising.\"",
    "Violation #2 (Thu Sep 02 2021 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)): visit https://www.dataprotection.ie/en/news-media/press-releases/data-protection-commission-announces-decision-whatsapp-inquiry — confirm \"EU regulators fine WhatsApp €225 million for failing to disclose how it shares user data with other Facebook companies.\"",
    "Verify the SHA-256 content hash by re-generating the JSON bundle."
  ]
}