WhatsApp has plans to introduce a feature allowing its users to integrate their Facebook accounts with the instant messaging and voice calling app. But the benefit user will get from this is still to be seen. As per the description the integration will “improve Facebook experiences.” As spotted by Android developer Javier Santos, WhatsApp’s version 2.12.413 for Android phones indicates company’s intention to enable user to link the messaging service with their respective Facebook accounts. The feature will be appearing on the Account settings of the app. It will ask the user if they want to share their WhatsApp account information with Facebook. It’s an optional choice given to the users.
WhatsApp was acquired by Facebook in a multi-billion deal in 2014. Since the acquisition it was expected that new features will be introduced so that WhatsApp’s and Facebook’s marquee services, Facebook and Messenger work in an efficient manner. They can leverage on each other’s features but no such integration is seen yet.
The same version of App also provided a “hidden” security settings page that enables users to activate an additional indicator which would inform them if their chats and calls are encrypted. But it requires a rooted Android smartphone or tablet in order to run a bunch of command. Inclusion of an additional indicator will improve WhatsApp’s image with enthusiasts and privacy activists. They may however, not like the idea of sharing their information with Facebook.
In 2014, WhatsApp had partnered with Open Whisper Systems which is a non-profit software group. It develops collaborative open source projects in order to scramble messages with a cryptographic key to bolster privacy. End-to-end encryption was implemented on WhatsApp’s Android devices in the same year itself. But in a study it was found that the feature was not implemented correctly which lead to a score of two out of seven by the digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation for privacy sophistication.
