Help Article | About contacts and your WhatsApp Business app

GDPR and the contacts in your device address book

When you use the WhatsApp Business app, you are the Controller of all contacts in your device’s address book. As Controller, you must have a legal basis to process your contacts, whether contractual necessity, legitimate interest, consent, or any other appropriate legal basis described in Article 6 of the GDPR.

When you give WhatsApp access to these contacts, WhatsApp is your data Processor. We quickly determine whether you can message these contacts on WhatsApp and deliver your messages to the intended recipients. For more information, refer to the WhatsApp Business Data Processing Terms referenced and incorporated within our WhatsApp Business Terms of Service.

Manage and control access to your device address book

There are several ways to control which contacts you provide to WhatsApp. For example, you can add only those contacts for which you have the appropriate legal basis to your device address book. One benefit of this approach is that it encourages you and your employees to practice good data privacy hygiene. Keeping business contacts and devices separate from personal ones helps prevent the misuse of customers' data or company devices for personal use (and vice versa).

If you wish to keep all your business and personal contacts on the same device, you can segment your address book by using tools that allow you to keep separate address books.

WhatsApp Features

TEXTS

Simple, Reliable Messaging

Message your friends and family for free*. WhatsApp uses your phone's Internet connection to send messages so you can avoid SMS fees

* Data charges may apply. Contact your provider for details.

GROUP CHAT

Groups to keep in touch

Keep in touch with the groups of people that matter the most, like your family or coworkers. With group chats, you can share messages, photos, and videos with up to 256 people at once. You can also name your group, mute or customize notifications, and more.

WHATSAPP ON WEB AND DESKTOP

Keep the Conversation Going

With WhatsApp on the web and desktop, you can seamlessly sync all of your chats to your computer so that you can chat on whatever device is most convenient for you. Download the desktop app or visit web.whatsapp.com to get started

WHATSAPP VOICE AND VIDEO CALLS

Speak Freely

With voice calls, you can talk to your friends and family for free*, even if they're in another country. And with free* video calls, you can have face-to-face conversations for when voice or text just isn't enough. WhatsApp voice and video calls use your phone's Internet connection, instead of your cell plan's voice minutes, so you don't have to worry about expensive calling charges.

* Data charges may apply. Contact your provider for details.

END-TO-END ENCRYPTION

Security by Default

Some of your most personal moments are shared on WhatsApp, which is why we built end-to-end encryption into the latest versions of our app. When end-to-end encrypted, your messages and calls are secured so only you and the person you're communicating with can read or listen to them, and nobody in between, not even WhatsApp.

PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

Share Moments that Matter

Send photos and videos on WhatsApp instantly. You can even capture the moments that matter to you most with a built-in camera. With WhatsApp, photos and videos send quickly even if you're on a slow connection.

DOCUMENTS

Document Sharing Made Easy

Send PDFs, documents, spreadsheets, slideshows and more, without the hassle of email or file sharing apps. You can send documents up to 100 MB, so it's easy to get what you need over to who you want.