(Image source from: npr.org)

WhatsApp, a popular messaging application has claimed it shares limited data of payment service with its parent firm Facebook and the social media major does not use the data for the commercial purpose.

"Facebook does not use WhatsApp payment information for commercial purposes, it simply helps pass the necessary payment information to the bank partner and National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI). In some cases, we may share limited data to help provide customer support to you or keep payments safe and secure," WhatsApp claimed on its website.

WhatsApp is running a beta version of its payment service in India.

According to government sources, “the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (IT) has written to National Payment Corporation of India to confirm compliance around WhatsApp payment and check if WhatsApp is sharing information with Facebook”.

The ministry has asked NPCI to verify compliance with WhatsApp payment it scales up its service.

WhatsApp on its website said that when a user makes a payment, the messaging app creates the indispensable connection between the sender and recipient of the payment, using Facebook infrastructure.

"We pass the transaction information to the bank partner, which is called a payment service provider (PSP), and to NPCI, so they can facilitate the movement of funds between the sender's and receiver's bank accounts," the website said.

WhatsApp spokesperson said, Facebook processes Unified Payments Interface transaction data as a service provider for WhatsApp, and does not use WhatsApp payments transaction data for commercial purposes.

The IT ministry has uttered concern around data safety Facebook users in India following data leak from its platform to Cambridge Analytica.

The ministry on June 7 once again issued to the Facebook questing explanation on reports that it shared data of users with mobile device makers. WhatsApp claimed that it also does not store any sensitive payment information such as one-time password sent for the transaction, account number or full debit card inside information.

"Today, almost 1 million people are testing WhatsApp payments in India. The feedback has been very positive. People enjoy the convenience of sending money as simply and securely as they send messages. We’re working closely with NPCI and multiple banks including our payment service providers to expand the feature to more people and support India’s digital economy," the spokesperson said.

By Sowmya Sangam