CALIFORNIA - Popular messaging service WhatsApp said it would start sharing users’ phone numbers with parent Facebook Inc, marking a notable shift in its stance on privacy. When Facebook bought WhatsApp in 2014, founder Jan Koum vowed to protect data of its users, saying the deal would not affect its privacy policy. The change in policy, WhatsApp’s first since the deal, will allow for more relevant advertisements and friend recommendations on Facebook, according to a WhatsApp blog post. WhatsApp, however, sought to reassure users by saying that it would not sell, share, or give users’ phone numbers to advertisers.