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WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app

arstechnica.com

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Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app

#851

Post by 72deluxe »

ddrdrck_ wrote: post #779
worldsayshi wrote: post #759

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But with SMS group messaging is rather cumbersome no?

Yes, which is exactly why WhatsApp has replaced SMS : group messaging. People still use SMS for 1 to 1 conversation in France

Based on all the groups my wife is part of, it seems other people get absolutely nothing done in life since they appear to be sending pointless messages on a group constantly. Her phone is constantly buzzing, and 99.9% of it is utter nonsense.

It seems to me that the inability to easily message a group would be a bonus and not a loss!

Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app

#852

Post by domano »

domano wrote: post #115
utf_8x wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IMO it works just as well and unlike Telegram it's actually credible... The telegram crypto is an absolute disaster and they have been pretty shady and defensive when asked about it in the past. Not to mention the back-end is closed-source. Also, the desktop clients still don't support encryption, many years after it's been first requested.

Do you have some links regarding their disastrous encryption? The security guys i know speak highly of telegram and AFAIK it has been open sourced recently, but i am open to new information.

I do apologize, i had Threema in my mind and mixed them up.

Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app

#854

Post by distances »

fart32 wrote: post #822
Shacklz wrote: post #797

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In essence I agree with you, but let's not forget that in most countries, the government has already complete (albeit strongly regulated) control and access to postal services and everything that is sent through them, and I think most citizens (me included) are okay with that as well. Furthermore; I'd much rather have the government spying in my stuff than Facebook selling my data to the highest bidder; at least if t…

> and everything that is sent through them Are you seriously comparing letters and private IM conversations? I don't know about you, but I received/sent maybe 5 letters in last 10 years, none of which were from/to another private entity. > I'd much rather have the government spying I consider this very short sighted and dangerours, but that's your choice. > at least if that were my only two choices Those are not your…

I think this trust difference is a general division between Europe and US. Europeans generally trust their governments more than private companies, and vice versa in the US. I would assume both have valid reasons for this on their own side of the pond.

For what it's worth, I too would trust the government a whole lot more than Facebook.

Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app

#855

Post by 72deluxe »

krageon wrote: post #715
chalst wrote: post #539

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't like Signal's stance on forks (which is that they are allowed but may not use the official Signal network) but it hardly has identical drawbacks. Signal is open source, can be downloaded as an official APK and can be run on LineageOS without Google Play (notifications do require some emulation of Play Services calls, but that can be provided using MicroG).

The author is a toxic dictator who hates the idea of ceding power so that they can have a constructive and open protocol for everyone. That means the app should never be used, by anyone. If you're going to use software like this, you may as well stay with whatsapp - at least that has a lot of users.

I see mention of the toxic dictator stuff and non-reproducible builds mentioned through this thread - do you have info on that you can point me to? I am asking because a guy at work wanted me to install Signal as voice call quality on Duo was appallingly bad. Thanks in advance.

Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app

#856

Post by distances »

mrweasel wrote: post #789
rutthenut wrote: post #773

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Carriers now looking to RCS as the messenger alternative, but if they price it like MMS, they will kill it. To do it cheaper, they have to give a large chunk of the service to Google, which gives Google the data mining opportunities :(

MMS is free at this point, in many countries. The carriers in those countries will make more money by using RCS, because it will use cellular data (at least if I understand it correctly), which isn't free. My point being that I don't think many carriers care about text messaging, or phone calls. They sell you a fixed cost plan for those. The only thing that can really affect your price is data usage. If Google wants…

Is RCS using Google infrastructure? I thought it stands for Rich Communication Services, the SIP/IMS based telco system?

Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app

#857

Post by domano »

I consciously refuse WhatsApp and live with the consequences - but people are coming around slowly or maybe my social circle is small enough to avoid the aforementioned inertia.

Usually people have it installed alongside WhatsApp, i am the only one without it i think.

Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app

#858

Post by distances »

MattJ100 wrote: post #707
ruairispain wrote: post #697

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So many children using it. Wonder what the EU law is on data privacy and under age kids? Can under-18s legally sign this snooped data over to FB? Hope some lawyers can stop this in its tracks. Otherwise Signal or some other service will get our business

Last I checked WhatsApp minimum age was 16 (in the EU at least) to comply with the regulations. Obviously that doesn't stop (many, many...) just using it anyway. But Facebook will happily turn a blind eye to this unless their hand is forced.

Here all the kids use it as soon as they get a phone. If they can't write yet they'll send emojis (!!). The minimum age is just a meaningless smoke screen.
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