The points about e2e encryption deflects from the bigger problem - the parent company FB's user-hostile track record with privacy, their constant flip-flopping on privacy settings and policies, and their consistent pattern of unethical behaviours.
While we are debating the pros and cons of WhatsApp's policy update, I can bet anything we will see more user hostile policy changes, data sharing, data mining and exploitation in future, because this is the business model of the parent company. It makes no sense to not exploit the gold mine of metadata and personally identifiable information if that's the foundation of your business model.
At this point, I don't even mind using vanilla SMS compared to WhatsApp or FB messenger since it's my telco who's doing the data collection, and the telco is governed by a different and far stricter legislation in my country.
While we are debating the pros and cons of WhatsApp's policy update, I can bet anything we will see more user hostile policy changes, data sharing, data mining and exploitation in future, because this is the business model of the parent company. It makes no sense to not exploit the gold mine of metadata and personally identifiable information if that's the foundation of your business model.
At this point, I don't even mind using vanilla SMS compared to WhatsApp or FB messenger since it's my telco who's doing the data collection, and the telco is governed by a different and far stricter legislation in my country.