WhatsApp requires US and Canada users to waive their right to jury trials and class action lawsuits through mandatory arbitration. They share user information with other Meta companies (Facebook, Instagram) and claim broad rights to use your content. They can terminate accounts at their discretion and limit liability to just $100.
No actual rules or policies changed here. WhatsApp just removed an ad for a browser calling feature from the top of their terms page. Nothing that affects what you can or can't do.
See the full change →The Bottom Line
AI-generated summary of the terms as we read them. Opinion, not legal advice.
WhatsApp requires US and Canada users to waive their right to jury trials and class action lawsuits through mandatory arbitration. They share user information with other Meta companies (Facebook, Instagram) and claim broad rights to use your content. They can terminate accounts at their discretion and limit liability to just $100.
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Notable Clauses
“YOU WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO HAVE SUCH DISPUTES RESOLVED IN COURT BY A JUDGE OR JURY. FINALLY, YOU MAY BRING A CLAIM ONLY ON YOUR OWN BEHALF, AND NOT ON BEHALF OF ANY OFFICIAL OR OTHER PERSON, OR CLASS OF PEOPLE. YOU WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN, OR HAVE YOUR DISPUTE HEARD AND RESOLVED AS, A CLASS ...”
“In order to operate and provide our Services, you grant WhatsApp a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to use, reproduce, distribute, create derivative works of, display, and perform the information (including the content) that you upload, submit, store, s...”
“If anyone brings a claim ("Third-Party Claim") against us related to your actions, information, or content on WhatsApp, or any other use of our Services by you, you will, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, and hold the WhatsApp Parties harmless from and against all liabili...”
“As part of the Meta Companies, WhatsApp receives information from, and shares information with, the Meta Companies as described in WhatsApp's Privacy Policy, including to provide integrations which enable you to connect your WhatsApp experience with other Meta Company Products; to ensure security, s...”
“We may modify, suspend, or terminate your access to or use of our Services anytime for any reason, such as if you violate the letter or spirit of our Terms or create harm, risk, or possible legal exposure for us, our users, or others.”
“OUR AGGREGATE LIABILITY RELATING TO, ARISING OUT OF, OR IN ANY WAY IN CONNECTION WITH OUR TERMS, US, OR OUR SERVICES WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100) OR THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE PAID US IN THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS.”
“WE ARE PROVIDING OUR SERVICES ON AN "AS IS" BASIS WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND FREEDOM FROM COMPUTER VIRUS OR OTHER HARMFUL CODE.”
“To opt out, you must notify us in writing postmarked within 30 days of the later of: (a) the date that you first accepted our Terms; and (b) the date you became subject to this arbitration provision.”
Protect Yourself
ACTIONABLESettings and actions you can take to limit your exposure
Opt Out of Arbitration
Preserve your right to sue WhatsApp in court and join class action lawsuits by opting out within 30 days
- Write a letter including: your name, address, phone number, and clear statement you want to opt out
- Mail to: WhatsApp LLC Arbitration Opt-Out, 1 Meta Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025
- Send within 30 days of accepting terms (postmark date matters)
Limit Contact Upload
Prevent WhatsApp from continuously accessing your phone contacts
- Go to phone Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Permissions
- Turn off Contacts permission
- Note: You can still add contacts manually within WhatsApp
Control Profile Information Sharing
Limit what profile information other users can see
- Open WhatsApp → Settings → Privacy
- Set 'Last Seen' to 'My contacts' or 'Nobody'
- Set 'Profile Photo' to 'My contacts' or 'Nobody'
- Set 'Status' to 'My contacts' or 'Nobody'
Turn Off Read Receipts
Prevent others from seeing when you've read their messages
- Open WhatsApp → Settings → Privacy
- Turn off 'Read receipts'
- Note: You also won't see when others read your messages
Export Chat History
Back up important conversations before potential account termination
- Open the chat you want to back up
- Tap the contact/group name at the top
- Scroll down and tap 'Export chat'
- Choose 'Include media' or 'Without media'
- Save to your preferred app or email to yourself
Better Alternatives in Messaging
These messaging services have a higher Rights Score on their terms
Disclaimer: The clauses shown above are excerpts from publicly available Terms of Service documents. Ratings and severity levels reflect community and AI assessment, not legal advice, factual claims, or determinations about a company's legality or intent. Clauses marked “VERIFIED” have been confirmed as exact quotes from the source document. Clauses marked “AI-extracted” were identified by AI and may contain errors. Always verify against the original TOS.
Get notified when WhatsApp updates their TOS
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By subscribing, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.