[ypeter]

I expect that they don't lie on their public website. This is what WhatsApp says on their own website https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/security-and-privacy/answer... :

  Neither WhatsApp nor Facebook can read your messages or hear your calls with your friends, family, and co-workers on WhatsApp. Whatever you share, it stays between you. That’s because your personal messages are protected by end-to-end encryption. We will never weaken this security and we clearly label each chat so you know our commitment.

[hans_castorp]

Well they also promised to never exchange data between WhatsApp and Facebook when they bought WhatsApp. You simply can't believe any promise Facebook (or any FAANG company for that matter) makes regarding privacy or how they protect your personal data.