'Avoid Sending Sensitive Data Through WhatsApp'

A cyber security expert says people should avoid sending sensitive personal data, like photos or passport and ID card information via WhatsApp to reduce the risk of their details being leaked.

Anthony Lai made the comment after WhatsApp announced it will soon change its policy and will start sharing a host of data with its parent company, Facebook.

Billions of users around the world will have to agree to new terms by February 8, or get kicked off the instant messaging platform.

Facebook's head of Greater China, Jayne Leung, said late on Monday that the new terms are meant to facilitate better communication between users and businesses.

She wrote on her personal account that WhatsApp won't share the phone contact lists of users with anyone or any organisation, including Facebook, and that the messaging app will remain free.

"For this update of privacy terms, we wanted to enhance transparency for privacy protection. Unfortunately, we didn't communicate well enough, we should've used clearer ways to express ourselves in areas that warranted more explanation," Leung said.

However, Lai warned users who decide to stick with WhatsApp to be extra cautious, saying it is hard to tell how Facebook will use the new information it obtains.

He told RTHK's Damon Pang that it’s a good idea to use more than one texting app to lower the risk of privacy infringement.

And some local internet users reported they were doing just that, saying they will move to other messaging apps like Signal and Telegram, which are equipped with a host of security and encryption functions.