WhatsApp wants to share your phone number with Facebook for better friend suggestions

In a blog post WhatsApp, revealed along with various features it has implemented in the past four years its updated terms of service and privacy policy to better reflect its relationship with its parent company, Facebook. However, the one big change that sticks out is that WhatsApp says it will begin sharing users' phone numbers with Facebook.

The relevant bit of the new Privacy Policy as gotten from Mspoweruser;

New ways to use WhatsApp. We will explore ways for you and businesses to communicate with each other using WhatsApp, such as through order, transaction, and appointment information, delivery and shipping notifications, product and service updates, and marketing. For example, you may receive flight status information for upcoming travel, a receipt for something you purchased, or a notification when a delivery will be made. Messages you may receive containing marketing could include an offer for something that might interest you. We do not want you to have a spammy experience; as with all of your messages, you can manage these communications, and we will honor the choices you make.
The choices you have. If you are an existing user, you can choose not to have your WhatsApp account information shared with Facebook to improve your Facebook ads and products experiences. Existing users who accept our updated Terms and Privacy Policy will have an additional 30 days to make this choice by going to Settings > Account.

Privacy-minded WhatsApp users will want to take note.