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WhatsApp to move ahead with privacy update despite backlash

reuters.com

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Re: WhatsApp to move ahead with privacy update despite backlash

#71

Post by pmlnr »

egwor wrote: post #14

I'm so disappointed in this. Whatsapp is a functional tool. It was successful since it worked. Facebook has entirely failed to utilise it - to allow external systems to connect in so that businesses can do business on there. The voice calls are also a disaster. They've now come along to start messing with the privacy to start selling ads. It is insane that they're able to make such a mess of this. Is there a word for…

> I'm so disappointed in this. Whatsapp is a functional tool. It was successful since it worked.

One decade ago:

s/Whatapp/Skype/g

s/Facebook/Microsoft/g

Re: WhatsApp to move ahead with privacy update despite backlash

#72

Post by smhg »

tambourine_man wrote: post #41

It's really hard for me to understand why and how something fails or succeeds to grab the public's attention. I've been complaining and refusing to use WhatsApp for years, mostly because it's centralized at the worst possible company. But a boycott of one is not a powerful move and no one cared. Now, for whatever reason, nothing has effectively changed and millions suddenly care. I mean, I'm glad they finally do, do…

Over here (in Belgium and The Netherlands at least) so many neighborhoods have signs promoting local WhatsApp groups, complete with the logo [0]. Often to 'prevent crime'. Local municipalities install and pay for them. It is so awkward to see.

[0] https://cdn.nieuws.nl/media/sites/305/2016/05/14195316/Borde...

Re: WhatsApp to move ahead with privacy update despite backlash

#75

Post by draugadrotten »

amenod wrote: post #62
popol12 wrote: post #4

Meanwhile I've switched my family and friend to Signal with great success.

I installed Signal recently, but was flabbergasted when it advised me to connect with someone they found in my phone contacts who has recently joined Signal. WTF? If I knew that my contacts were being shared with a 3rd party (Signal), I would never have signed up. Still, better Signal than Facebook, I guess. :-/ P.S.: if I'm missing something and the check was done in privacy-conscious way, I would love to be correct…

https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360007061452-Do...

"Signal periodically sends truncated cryptographically hashed phone numbers for contact discovery. Names are never transmitted, and the information is not stored on the servers. The server responds with the contacts that are Signal users and then immediately discards this information. Your phone now knows which of your contacts is a Signal user and notifies you if your contact just started using Signal. "

Re: WhatsApp to move ahead with privacy update despite backlash

#77

Post by [deleted] »

amenod wrote: post #62
popol12 wrote: post #4

Meanwhile I've switched my family and friend to Signal with great success.

I installed Signal recently, but was flabbergasted when it advised me to connect with someone they found in my phone contacts who has recently joined Signal. WTF? If I knew that my contacts were being shared with a 3rd party (Signal), I would never have signed up. Still, better Signal than Facebook, I guess. :-/ P.S.: if I'm missing something and the check was done in privacy-conscious way, I would love to be correct…

[deleted]

Re: WhatsApp to move ahead with privacy update despite backlash

#78

Post by chopin »

amenod wrote: post #62
popol12 wrote: post #4

Meanwhile I've switched my family and friend to Signal with great success.

I installed Signal recently, but was flabbergasted when it advised me to connect with someone they found in my phone contacts who has recently joined Signal. WTF? If I knew that my contacts were being shared with a 3rd party (Signal), I would never have signed up. Still, better Signal than Facebook, I guess. :-/ P.S.: if I'm missing something and the check was done in privacy-conscious way, I would love to be correct…

It's done via hashes which is why it might need some time that contacts on your phone are recognized that they are on Signal.

Afaik, Signal servers have no information who your contacts are.

Re: WhatsApp to move ahead with privacy update despite backlash

#79

Post by KDJohnBrown »

People have been raising the alarm about governmenral big brotherism for aeons .. and we willingly accept 24/7 surveillance by big tech.

The internet was by far the worst infringement on freedon humanity ever created. The worst part is we all submit to this willingly, without so much as raising a fist in defense.

Re: WhatsApp to move ahead with privacy update despite backlash

#80

Post by PragmaticPulp »

lokischild wrote: post #55
PragmaticPulp wrote: post #51

I use Signal and I’ve encouraged my friends and family to switch as well. But let’s be honest: WhatsApp is moving forward because they aren’t threatened by this concern or losing some users to Signal. The average user doesn’t care about anything other than easily communicating with other people at this point, and news articles like this are part of the problem. Frankly, the sky-is-falling uproar about any and every p…

You seem to make many assumptions that are, AFAIK, false. The data is there and gets stored indefinitely. It is not only monetized for ADs, but for surveillance as well. Companies and state contact the company and buy that data about you.

Do you have a source for that? Because your claims don’t match the proposed WhatsApp privacy policy changes this refers to.

You can read a summary of the proposed changes here: https://www.google.com/amp/s/arstechnica.com/tech-policy/202...

Contrary to the public perception, Facebook isn’t in the business of selling data to other companies. The proposed changes don’t change that situation.

A privacy policy isn’t going to stop the state from legally accessing data they’re legally entitled to.

This is what I was trying to say with my comment above: The public perception of what these companies are doing has diverged from what they’re actually doing, and it’s making everyone so jaded that they’ve stopped paying attention to the details.

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