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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

#141

Post by chis »

avallach wrote: post #93

Isn't this actually improving safety by openly admitting how things always were in practice? Any e2e encryption provided by the same entity who fully controls both the blackbox clients, and the server in between, is just a security theatre that they can selectively bypass anytime with very little risk of detection. Not really much better than simple client to server encryption. Truly safe e2e requires open source cli…

E2E encryption lets Meta turn down government subpoenas because they can say they truly don't have access to the unencrypted data.

I can't say I really mind this change by Meta that much overall though. Anyone who's serious about privacy probably knew better than to pick "Instagram chat" as their secure channel. And on the other hand having the chats available helps protect minors.

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

#142

Post by Cider9986 »

everdrive wrote: post #36

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 could try becoming a privacy advocate. https://www.privacyguides.org/en/activism/

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

#144

Post by query_demotion »

Spooky23 wrote: post #84
everdrive wrote: post #36

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.

The US is building out the infrastructure for a police state. The people who control the consolidated tech platforms are either spearheading or collaborating with that process. Privacy as a concept isn't even in the cards. You need to be prepared to avoid saying naughty things on the internet. Otherwise, perhaps someone will figure out that you great-great grandfather didn't sign in the right spot in 1897 and you're…

>The US is building out the infrastructure for a police state.

Take the Utah Data Center (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_Data_Center), combine it with the Disposition Matrix (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disposition_Matrix), informally known as a kill list for even US citizens, and it does seem like you're getting a Police State!

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

#146

Post by abnercoimbre »

everdrive wrote: post #109
j_bizzle wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m truly on the fence about all of this. On one hand, I think a lot of the larger issues and divisions we’ve seen in society over the last 20 years are a direct result of our primary means of communication, entertainment and information being one that allows such ease of impersonation. While most of us here understand just how much Internet content is created with influence as a goal, and the posted by accounts with…

In my opinion anonymity is a great red herring. The worst offenders on the internet have verified accounts and are public figures. The problem is algorithmic content, prioritizing for engagement and outrage, and then connecting _everyone_. We had what was effectively anonymity in the 90s, but really had NONE of the crazy society-breaking extremism we see now. Getting rid of anonymity will really do NOTHING to halt th…

Everything is a sliding scale. There would be improvement from verified identities (and doing so through a zero-trust network is feasible.) I agree the worst actors wouldn't care at all, and in that case we address the algorithmic amplification problem.

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

#147

Post by vova_hn2 »

fsflover wrote: post #108
trinsic2 wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like e2ee on phones with OSes from the big two is a lost cause. I'll bet this is the year where open hardware/bios starts getting more popular, hopefully. So we can have open hardware/software.

GNU/Linux phones already exist. See: Librem 5 and Pinephone.

I find it really off putting, how weak is their hardware, compared to a normal Android phone in a similar price range.

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

#148

Post by tredre3 »

krystalgamer wrote: post #123
ultratalk wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 Insta…

this is a very 21st century thing, the ability to know what everyone is doing at any time. extremely voyeuristic too. the only social circle that truly matters is the geographically close one. no amount of E2EE or fancy chat app will replace being physically present.

First you said that people should use decentralized platforms. Now you acknowledge that there's nobody of value on those platforms so now you say people should stop wanting to connect in the first place.

I mean, okay? Next time just say social media is a cancer, and don't waste our time moving goal posts.

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

#149

Post by Cider9986 »

Papazsazsa wrote: post #65

Socials are caught in the innovator's dilemma. Given the dependence our society now has on the internet, it's bonkers to me that more VCs aren't rethinking their investment strategy. Privacy is not some niche concern anymore, check out the response to Flock for example.

Some are. See simplex.chat, anytype.io.

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

#150

Post by wiether »

stackskipton wrote: post #78
wiether wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

But it's not any data, it's political orientation data!

Sometimes people talk about GDPR being only the cookie banner, but thanks to it, its forbidden to collect that kind of data.

https://gdpr-info.eu/art-9-gdpr/

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