WhatsApp Messaging Interoperability • Hacker News Board

Re: WhatsApp Messaging Interoperability

#11

Post by darklion » Thu, Mar 07, 2024, 8:44 PM UTC

Razengan wrote: post #5

There's something really appalling that I discovered lately and I can't believe there isn't enough uproar about it. Every attempt to talk about this gets ignored or buried (maybe by people who want this ""feature"" to be kept quiet) so I will take every opportunity on existing discussions about Facebook to bring it up: Facebook (and TikTok) store tracking data on iOS that the user CANNOT SEE and CANNOT DELETE: • It s…

> WHY does Apple, parading around as a pompous paragon of privacy, even allow this crap?

Good alliteration.

Apple doesn’t enforce what the app does with app data. Apple makes sure that if the app uses a platform API that is sensitive, it gets your opt-in (or prohibits the use of the API altogether). Apple makes sure that the app publishes a privacy nutrition label. But what the app does inside with whatever data you choose to give it, that’s up to the app.

If you voluntarily choose to give data to the app, what the app does with it is your problem. Apple just tries to make sure the app can’t take data that you haven’t chosen to give it.

Re: WhatsApp Messaging Interoperability

#12

Post by Razengan » Thu, Mar 07, 2024, 8:45 PM UTC

darklion wrote: post #11

Razengan wrote: post #5

There's something really appalling that I discovered lately and I can't believe there isn't enough uproar about it. Every attempt to talk about this gets ignored or buried (maybe by people who want this ""feature"" to be kept quiet) so I will take every opportunity on existing discussions about Facebook to bring it up: Facebook (and TikTok) store tracking data on iOS that the user CANNOT SEE and CANNOT DELETE: • It s…

> WHY does Apple, parading around as a pompous paragon of privacy, even allow this crap? Good alliteration. Apple doesn’t enforce what the app does with app data. Apple makes sure that if the app uses a platform API that is sensitive, it gets your opt-in (or prohibits the use of the API altogether). Apple makes sure that the app publishes a privacy nutrition label. But what the app does inside with whatever data you…

There is no indication whatsoever that an app will leave behind an Eternal Cookie on my device, nor am I given a chance to prevent it.

Re: WhatsApp Messaging Interoperability

#13

Post by majke » Thu, Mar 07, 2024, 8:46 PM UTC

Pannoniae wrote: post #9

The most hilarious part: "Partner represents and warrants that it shall not introduce into WhatsApp’s Systems or Infrastructure, the Sublicensed Encryption Software, or otherwise make accessible to WhatsApp any viruses or any software licensed under the General Public Licence or any similar licence (e.g. GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL), GNU General Public License (GPL), GNU Lesser General Public License (LGP…

Can a binary even be gpl?

Re: WhatsApp Messaging Interoperability

#14

Post by redeeman » Thu, Mar 07, 2024, 8:50 PM UTC

HumblyTossed wrote: post #8

Razengan wrote: post #5

There's something really appalling that I discovered lately and I can't believe there isn't enough uproar about it. Every attempt to talk about this gets ignored or buried (maybe by people who want this ""feature"" to be kept quiet) so I will take every opportunity on existing discussions about Facebook to bring it up: Facebook (and TikTok) store tracking data on iOS that the user CANNOT SEE and CANNOT DELETE: • It s…

This is nuts. There should be a grand total of zero files on my personal computing device that I cannot remove (no matter the consequences).

then you have chosen the wrong platform. Just be grateful that the mighty apple even deems you worthy of having files

Re: WhatsApp Messaging Interoperability

#15

Post by ydnaclementine » Thu, Mar 07, 2024, 8:53 PM UTC

irusensei wrote: post #6

Signal or matrix interop would be great. I use WhatsApp as the logistical tool of choice to communicate with my coworkers when away from the company but I wish I could uninstall it. Not my tribe.

Not sure if signal should interopt with data mining software. Keep that stuff isolated

Re: WhatsApp Messaging Interoperability

#16

Post by Razengan » Thu, Mar 07, 2024, 8:59 PM UTC

redeeman wrote: post #14

HumblyTossed wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is nuts. There should be a grand total of zero files on my personal computing device that I cannot remove (no matter the consequences).

then you have chosen the wrong platform. Just be grateful that the mighty apple even deems you worthy of having files

Android's security was way worse for years. How long did they even take before having granular permissions or a Privacy Report, if they do now at all?

Re: WhatsApp Messaging Interoperability

#17

Post by Arathorn » Thu, Mar 07, 2024, 9:03 PM UTC

datanut wrote: post #4

I wonder how desirable and feasible a [matrix] interop would be.

https://element.io/blog/the-eu-digital-markets-act-is-here/ gives some answers :)

Re: WhatsApp Messaging Interoperability

#18

Post by PandaBear123 » Thu, Mar 07, 2024, 9:03 PM UTC

> 7.5.1. Partner User Location. Any Partner Users that Partner Enlists or provides access to the Interoperable Messaging Services must be located and remain in the EEA. Without limiting Section 11 (Warranties), Partner represents and warrants that it will only (i) Enlist and (ii) enable access to the Interoperable Messaging Services by Partner Users that Partner independently validates are located in the European Economic Area, (i.e., a Partner User must be present within the European Economic Area within any consecutive sixty (60) calendar day period). If WhatsApp detects or otherwise has reasonable grounds to suspect a Partner User Enlisted to receive the Interoperable Messaging Services is not located in the European Economic Area or is no longer located in the EEA, WhatsApp reserves the right to immediately suspend such Partner User(s) from accessing the Interoperable Messaging Services, and if multiple violations are detected, Partner shall remedy Partner's location validation procedures to ensure compliance with the terms of this Agreement.

Looks like interoperability is geo-fenced to Europe only.

Re: WhatsApp Messaging Interoperability

#19

Post by diego_sandoval » Thu, Mar 07, 2024, 9:04 PM UTC

Pannoniae wrote: post #9

The most hilarious part: "Partner represents and warrants that it shall not introduce into WhatsApp’s Systems or Infrastructure, the Sublicensed Encryption Software, or otherwise make accessible to WhatsApp any viruses or any software licensed under the General Public Licence or any similar licence (e.g. GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL), GNU General Public License (GPL), GNU Lesser General Public License (LGP…

Viruses licensed under the MIT or BSD licenses are OK, though.

Re: WhatsApp Messaging Interoperability

#20

Post by quadhome » Thu, Mar 07, 2024, 9:05 PM UTC

Pannoniae wrote: post #9

The most hilarious part: "Partner represents and warrants that it shall not introduce into WhatsApp’s Systems or Infrastructure, the Sublicensed Encryption Software, or otherwise make accessible to WhatsApp any viruses or any software licensed under the General Public Licence or any similar licence (e.g. GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL), GNU General Public License (GPL), GNU Lesser General Public License (LGP…

“Any viruses” huh? The semantic gap between engineering and legal is real.