Meta Faces Backlash Over WhatsApp Ads Rollout

Meta has announced it will introduce advertisements to WhatsApp for the first time, ending the app’s long-standing ad-free status. Ads will be confined to the Updates tab, specifically within Status updates and promoted Channels, and personal chats and calls will remain end-to-end encrypted and free from ad targeting. Meta will use limited data such as user location, language, and channel follows for targeting, but not private message content. The move is part of a broader monetization strategy, including channel subscriptions and business promotions, and leverages WhatsApp's global user base of over 3 billion. The plan has triggered backlash from privacy advocates and users, particularly in Europe, where regulators argue it may violate GDPR and the Digital Markets Act. Despite Meta’s privacy assurances, skepticism persists about potential future expansions of advertising within WhatsApp.