Ask HN: How can I meaningfully object to WhatsApp processing of my information?

Following some EU requirements (GDPR), WhatsApp updated their TOS. They say that we can now "object to [their] use of [our] information": https://faq.whatsapp.com/781249240131848/.

When following the form, I receive an e-mail saying:

> Hi,

> Thanks for your message.

> In order for us to review your objection, please reply to this email with > the following information:

> - What information processing you are objecting to. Your right to object applies where we rely on legitimate interest to process your information.

> - How WhatsApp’s processing of this information impacts you (example: what rights and freedoms you believe are impacted by the processing and why)

> - Any additional information you believe will help us review your objection (optional)

> We may ask you for more information if your request is incomplete.

> Thanks, WhatsApp Privacy Operations

Of course, I did not manage to get further than that: whatever I say, they answer that "We've reviewed your request and found that it doesn't meet the requirements for an objection to the processing of your personal information under the applicable data protection regulation.". They claim that they need all the information they collect, but since Signal does not collect any of that, it seems like they don't really need it. They also mention "Business intelligence and Analytics", it feels like it should be relatively easy to prove that they don't actually need to do that in order to provide WhatsApp to me, right?

Here they give more details about the information they collect, and the concept of "legitimate interest": https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/privacy-policy-eea/revisions/20211122#privacy-policy-information-we-collect.

My question: what should I answer to that e-mail in order to force WhatsApp to collect as few metadata as possible coming from my activity?

I wonder what would happen if you tried asking for a list of which information it is possible to opt out of while still using WhatsApp. To force them to reveal what they can function without, or how much they are pretending to need, instead of keeping users in the dark. I suspect they don't offer such a list because they want to claim they need everything.

Good point, I asked them that.

Sure, I just can't talk to my friends and family there :-).

> My question: what should I answer to that e-mail in order to force WhatsApp to collect as few metadata as possible coming from my activity?

Simple answer – you aren't going to be able to. Do you think they are going to release a new version of the app just for you? Their current policy has undoubtedly been approved by legal teams in the EU and across the world and unless you can find better lawyers than theirs or sympathetic government officials to back your cause you aren't really moving the needle.