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E2E encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after 8 May

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Re: E2E encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after 8 May

#71
post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People catch the spooks and their exploits all the time though. It is possible to defend against them. Maybe not on your phone though.

Agreed. I just mentioned that for the spooks who don't like I am suggesting moving sensitive conversations elsewhere using basic opsec. I assume the farm recruits on HN are probably just as concerned about AI taking their jobs. Surely someone has bought AI a coffee unprompted by now, maybe even flirted with the AI.

I don't quite understand your comment. I also disagree with some implications of the final bit of your first comment: encryption is obviously basic privacy, but the interesting bit is who you're talking to.

So having a signal for switching mediums is something that I feel indicates thinking in the wrong direction.

Re: E2E encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after 8 May

#72

There's a general trend right now against privacy and in a more general sense against freedom. More and more companies are on board with it. I'm not sure if anyone in HN has any useful advice in this regard. I feel like I don't know what to do about the internet for the next 5-10 years. Does this particular measure matter very much? No, but it's another brick in the wall.

You're on a site with a surprisingly high amount of support among commenters for trading privacy and freedom for convenience and comfort where it aligns with their religion/other biases or desired consumer experiences. I don't know if this the best place to ask for advice.

I'm not sure people realize that HN is already at the most libertarian end, and all the discourse spaces which are much closer to actual power and legislation are much less pro-privacy.

Re: E2E encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after 8 May

#73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Network effects will keep a person on a platform until a critical mass of their social circle decide to leave all at once. I'm no expert, but I suspect that that critical mass is pretty high, maybe more than 50% of a person's circle. So it's not exactly vanilla free-market competition. Entrenched players have a pretty big advantage.

what does your social circle being on Instagram bring to you? seriously, this picture-sharing app has evolved into this content spread machine that brings very little value.

When most of your social circle exists on one platform, you tend to use that platform less for its specific features, and more because of the fact that all your friends are there. I don't personally use Instagram, and this is anecdotal information, but I know a lot of people who only use Instagram to see what their friends and family are up to, and to watch the occasional reel.

But you're absolutely right about Instagram's evolution. It's crazy.

Re: E2E encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after 8 May

#74
I don't use IG although they dearly want me to, giving me a popup every time I visit, but let me talk about FB for a second (and btw FB wanted to enable cross-platform messaging on the platforms they own - Meta - which seems anti-trust-y) - when they introduced encryption on FB, they made it mandatory. They opted everyone in, and it broke Messenger. If you delete cookies you might also delete messages. Isn't that convenient?

Re: E2E encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after 8 May

#76
post #37

Never rely on a platform used by the masses to perform E2EE. It is far too easy to strip away E2EE for targeted users without their knowledge as they maintain the server and client code. This advise is to protect from corporations gobbling up and ultimately leaking sensitive data. Spooks can target the device itself via debug access for nation state level threats. Consider instead using a code word or phrase to move…

Unless you're actually a spy, there's no reason to do this. Just use your secure solution all the time with those conversation partners who are willing to use it.

Re: E2E encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after 8 May

#77
post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. I just mentioned that for the spooks who don't like I am suggesting moving sensitive conversations elsewhere using basic opsec. I assume the farm recruits on HN are probably just as concerned about AI taking their jobs. Surely someone has bought AI a coffee unprompted by now, maybe even flirted with the AI.

I don't quite understand your comment. I also disagree with some implications of the final bit of your first comment: encryption is obviously basic privacy, but the interesting bit is who you're talking to. So having a signal for switching mediums is something that I feel indicates thinking in the wrong direction.

So having a signal for switching mediums is something that I feel indicates thinking in the wrong direction.

It's not for everyone. I grew up with code phrases. My mom knew that if I said "I love you" to send in the cavalry. We had similar processes in the military. If I answered the phone a particular way they knew the remote site was under siege.

Re: E2E encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after 8 May

#78
post #61
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a California resident I request to download my personal data from every service I can, and I’m constantly surprised. We each have scores for all kinds of things. The local power company keeps a “Green Ideology” score on me.

How is that even legal?

Because it's not illegal. Most data privacy laws just require that user can see data collected about them and prevent sale of said data in optout fashion.

There are rarely laws around preventing collection of said data or using said data for some new service.

Re: E2E encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after 8 May

#79

There's a general trend right now against privacy and in a more general sense against freedom. More and more companies are on board with it. I'm not sure if anyone in HN has any useful advice in this regard. I feel like I don't know what to do about the internet for the next 5-10 years. Does this particular measure matter very much? No, but it's another brick in the wall.

> I feel like I don't know what to do about the internet for the next 5-10 years.

Switch to decentralized, e2ee alternatives, support https://eff.org

Re: E2E encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after 8 May

#80
post #50

There's a general trend right now against privacy and in a more general sense against freedom. More and more companies are on board with it. I'm not sure if anyone in HN has any useful advice in this regard. I feel like I don't know what to do about the internet for the next 5-10 years. Does this particular measure matter very much? No, but it's another brick in the wall.

As a California resident I request to download my personal data from every service I can, and I’m constantly surprised. We each have scores for all kinds of things. The local power company keeps a “Green Ideology” score on me.

When I see the word "score", it reminds me of the CCP social scoring system.
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