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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

#941

Post by veddox »

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…

It seems most people have chosen the centralized system, whether we like it or not. So then, the next choice would indeed be „public or private“?

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

#942

Post by veddox »

contradictioned wrote: post #471
frereubu wrote: post #22

I'd love to give up WhatsApp, but network effects are key here. I tried moving my extended family off WhatsApp onto Signal a couple of years ago and it failed miserably because the app wasn't nearly as easy to use, and they had all their friends on Whatsapp. Has anyone here had any success moving a large group of people onto something like Signal or Telegram? If so, do you have any tips?

I managed to get a part of my family to Threema. Just the part of "you are paying for the product, thus you are not the product yourselves" was reasonable enough. In my friends circle we are all on telegram (after trying wire which is just buggy as hell), but I think this is mainly due to its multi device story and then fact that it is not WhatsApp.

I shifted my family to Threema last year. Paid for it myself in the case of my younger siblings :D But it‘s working really well.

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

#944

Post by codemac »

benhurmarcel wrote: post #809
codemac wrote: post #294

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Signal - moved my immediate family to it, and now have a few friends on there as well. It had some rockiness maybe about 3 years ago, but with their new group implementation and some other small tweaks I find it just as easy to use as whatsapp, albeit it a little uglier. #1 complaint is the coloring - incoming messages should be high contrast, outgoing should have the background color. For some reason signal does the…

For info, the colors (and whole style) in Signal are the same as iMessage.

?? It's not for me on android :(

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

#945

Post by rcxdude »

skinkestek wrote: post #561
dessant wrote: post #528

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Our quest to fully convert to Signal has hit a major wall, Android tablets are not supported as linked devices. Supporting tablets would allow us to chat and send files across devices, without resorting to apps like Messenger.

Depending on your exact needs either Telegram or (preferably IMO) Matrix might be a solution. (Yes, I think this is correct: For anyone who are currently on WhatsApp or anything Facebook for that matter even Telegram is a huge improvement in most ways.)

Telegram is not better than WhatsApp in the very important aspect that it is not end-to-end encrypted. You can balance up the risks of facebook inserting malicious code into their client against the risks of your data being accessable at rest on Telegram's servers, but it's not at all clear Telegram is in a better spot there.

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

#947

Post by fouric »

dikaio wrote: post #946

I don’t understand the problem. Use Signal.

As many, many other people have stated here - beyond just burning social capital by forcing your other friends and family to use Signal (which isn't even federated), a lot of social, community, and commercial things are coordinated exclusively through WhatsApp.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25669600

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25673859

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25669072

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

#948

Post by knodi123 »

randoantimine wrote: post #398
knodi123 wrote: post #394

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> to either comply (share their data) or delete their account Isn't WhatsApp still purportedly end-to-end encrypted? What data is "on the table" when it comes to sharing - just contact lists and phone numbers?

> Isn't WhatsApp still purportedly end-to-end encrypted? What data is "on the table" when it comes to sharing - just contact lists and phone numbers? It is, and same is claimed in their privacy policy and ToS. According to the original article it will include, what is already being collected: User phone numbers Other people’s phone numbers stored in address books Profile names Profile pictures and Status message incl…

Purchases and Financial Information? From WhatsApp usage?

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

#949

Post by allarm »

SamuelAdams wrote: post #794
toprea wrote: post #771

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just thinking out loud here, as I was considering something like this. I can also not give up the WhatsApp account due to the social pressure. What if I would use a second phone, a cheap one, used only for the whatsapp (and some other essential but privacy invasive apps). I would not have that second phone always with me, but it would provide me access to the social network I need without feeling tracked or providing…

Trouble is you are privileged enough to be able to afford two phones. For many families, even a $300 device is a significant expense. So if your approach was the only approach, only the rich would have privacy.

Please describe what you mean by “privilege”. Privileged enough to have a second phone? What does that even mean? Am I also privileged to have a second laptop and a PS4? Should I feel ashamed because of this and why, exactly?

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

#950

Post by allarm »

TheRealSteel wrote: post #862
kar1181 wrote: post #677

It's harder for US folks to understand just how much of a monopoly WhatsApp has in Europe and the UK. Pretty much all of our school and local community communication happens via WhatsApp. I'd change to Signal or Telegram in a heartbeat, but the inertia is so great it's not possible. It pains me to say, but we're getting to the point where companies like Twitter, Facebook and Google need to be treated like utilities o…

Yep, in Australia I had basically never used WhatsApp. It's barely a thing. (However, Facebook Messenger dominates there, so it's not as if the privacy situation is any better, Facebook Messenger is just a better app/website to use). Here in the UK I am literally required to be on WhatsApp to live in the building I currently live in. I have no choice in this matter. It's just the default messaging service for everyon…

> I can't expect like 25 people all to switch messaging services just for me

It’s not “switching”, they can start using another app and continue using whatsapp. I’ve done it with my family at least twice during the last 12 years, it was not that difficult.

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