Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: How can I meaningfully object to WhatsApp processing of my information?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–57 of 57 posts

Re: Ask HN: How can I meaningfully object to WhatsApp processing of my information?

#51

Post by jtode »

low_common wrote: post #50
jtode wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sigh. We're discussing WhatsApp in this post. Read the subject line. I mentioned war crimes, and the [word] Rohingya, and that is enough for any curious mind to google and learn what I am talking about. But since you're determined to do a thorough demonstration of willful incuriosity, what I am talking about is, Facebook, owned by Meta, which owns WhatsApp, was used as a platform to foment and execute a genocide in t…

For every bad thing that's been done using WhatsApp I could name 10 great things done using the platform. No one is going to use your shitty alternative app dude. Also it's spelled Myanmar. You can't even spell the name right of the country that you're all upset about. Were you personally affected by what happened there? I bet you just like to cherry-pick tragedies and use them to virtue signal your depressed world v…

I see we've found the Meta employee.

Re: Ask HN: How can I meaningfully object to WhatsApp processing of my information?

#52

Post by NayamAmarshe »

_8ysf wrote: post #38
NayamAmarshe wrote: post #28

Well, one hardcore way is to just switch to another app and let your contacts know where to find you if they need you. I switched to Telegram 2 years ago, haven't installed WhatsApp ever since and all my contacts got comfortable with Telegram that I don't miss out on anything important anymore.

I understand the idea (though I find Telegram worse than WhatsApp in that it's not even properly end-to-end encrypted). But the idea here is really to see how far I can go about asking WhatsApp to not collect my data :-).

You'd be right, if you had any proof of WhatsApp being E2EE in the traditional sense.

You're using obfuscated closed source binaries from the biggest behaviour manipulation corporation on the planet.

Telegram is none of that. The security is robust and the features and services are much better.

Re: Ask HN: How can I meaningfully object to WhatsApp processing of my information?

#53

Post by _8ysf »

NayamAmarshe wrote: post #52
_8ysf wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I understand the idea (though I find Telegram worse than WhatsApp in that it's not even properly end-to-end encrypted). But the idea here is really to see how far I can go about asking WhatsApp to not collect my data :-).

You'd be right, if you had any proof of WhatsApp being E2EE in the traditional sense. You're using obfuscated closed source binaries from the biggest behaviour manipulation corporation on the planet. Telegram is none of that. The security is robust and the features and services are much better.

> You'd be right, if you had any proof of WhatsApp being E2EE in the traditional sense.

Fair point. Though last time I checked Telegram, nothing except the secret chats was end-to-end encrypted. So there I know that the features people like on Telegram are definitely not E2EE.

> The security is robust and the features and services are much better.

Features and services, I can accept that. Security... well again, only the secret chats are E2EE, and last time I checked, the secret chats didn't have more features than Signal.

Re: Ask HN: How can I meaningfully object to WhatsApp processing of my information?

#54

Post by NayamAmarshe »

_8ysf wrote: post #53
NayamAmarshe wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You'd be right, if you had any proof of WhatsApp being E2EE in the traditional sense. You're using obfuscated closed source binaries from the biggest behaviour manipulation corporation on the planet. Telegram is none of that. The security is robust and the features and services are much better.

> You'd be right, if you had any proof of WhatsApp being E2EE in the traditional sense. Fair point. Though last time I checked Telegram, nothing except the secret chats was end-to-end encrypted. So there I know that the features people like on Telegram are definitely not E2EE. > The security is robust and the features and services are much better. Features and services, I can accept that. Security... well again, only…

> Features and services, I can accept that. Security... well again, only the secret chats are E2EE, and last time I checked, the secret chats didn't have more features than Signal.

That doesn't mean they're in plain text. MTProto 2.0 is an audited and robust algorithm.

E2EE's cloud sync support is not very good, which is why Telegram doesn't use it because Cloud Sync is one of the best features of Telegram.

You can read more about the algorithm here: https://core.telegram.org/mtproto

Re: Ask HN: How can I meaningfully object to WhatsApp processing of my information?

#55

Post by _8ysf »

NayamAmarshe wrote: post #54
_8ysf wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You'd be right, if you had any proof of WhatsApp being E2EE in the traditional sense. Fair point. Though last time I checked Telegram, nothing except the secret chats was end-to-end encrypted. So there I know that the features people like on Telegram are definitely not E2EE. > The security is robust and the features and services are much better. Features and services, I can accept that. Security... well again, only…

> Features and services, I can accept that. Security... well again, only the secret chats are E2EE, and last time I checked, the secret chats didn't have more features than Signal. That doesn't mean they're in plain text. MTProto 2.0 is an audited and robust algorithm. E2EE's cloud sync support is not very good, which is why Telegram doesn't use it because Cloud Sync is one of the best features of Telegram. You can r…

> That doesn't mean they're in plain text. MTProto 2.0 is an audited and robust algorithm.

Nope, but it means that they are not E2EE. Meaning that the Telegram server (and whoever has access to it) has plaintext access to the messages.

Re: Ask HN: How can I meaningfully object to WhatsApp processing of my information?

#56

Post by _8ysf »

garbageoverflow wrote: post #34
_8ysf wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good point, I asked them that.

Please also share this with us when they respond.

The answered:

> Thank you for your message. Please read this article to learn more about objecting to the processing of your personal information: https://faq.whatsapp.com/1285115568956956/?helpref=uf_share

The page says:

``` How can I submit an objection?

If you're living in the European Region or in the UK, you can submit an objection to such processing of your personal information with this form and select "How can I make an objection to the processing of my information." Please provide your email address and WhatsApp phone number so we can process your request.

You will then be asked for the following information by email:

- What information processing you are objecting to: the processing activities carried out by WhatsApp on the basis of legitimate interests are listed above

- How this processing impacts you; under the GDPR and the UK GDPR, you have a right to object on grounds relating to your particular situation. This is important for us to be able to review and assess your objection. This is why we ask you to explain how the processing affects you (such as what rights and freedoms you believe are impacted by the processing and why)

- Any additional information you believe will help us review your objection (optional)

We may ask you for more information if your request is incomplete. ```

So yeah, obviously they don't want to tell me what would be a valid request from my end.

Re: Ask HN: How can I meaningfully object to WhatsApp processing of my information?

#57

Post by NayamAmarshe »

_8ysf wrote: post #55
NayamAmarshe wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Features and services, I can accept that. Security... well again, only the secret chats are E2EE, and last time I checked, the secret chats didn't have more features than Signal. That doesn't mean they're in plain text. MTProto 2.0 is an audited and robust algorithm. E2EE's cloud sync support is not very good, which is why Telegram doesn't use it because Cloud Sync is one of the best features of Telegram. You can r…

> That doesn't mean they're in plain text. MTProto 2.0 is an audited and robust algorithm. Nope, but it means that they are not E2EE. Meaning that the Telegram server (and whoever has access to it) has plaintext access to the messages.

> Meaning that the Telegram server (and whoever has access to it) has plaintext access to the messages.

No, that's not really true. They use a distributed key generation system. The keys are stored in multiple jurisdictions. No telegram employee or government can decrypt the messages. All the servers would have to be compromised to reach that 'plaintext access' that you mentioned.

Post reply on HN