[sirkneeland]

Well Jan could argue that it would cause a user exodus which would then reduce the value of WhatsApp (thus facebook) more than the added revenue would increase it.

I'm not saying that he would. Or that he could convince enough of the Board that this is the case. But he could.

[antr]

That is a good argument. I guess all of this depends on the numbers. What's better in absolute terms?: Exodus of users with immediate positive ROI or user privacy with potential $ in the future. Lets see how it pans out.