Changes in privacy conditions for WhatsApp have led to an exodus of users against rivals Telegram and Signal.
WhatsApp, a Facebook-owned messaging service with more than two billion users, recently announced controversial changes to its privacy terms, prompting a massive exodus of users to rival platforms, especially Telegram and Signal.
Users from outside Europe who do not accept the new terms before February 8 will be excluded from the messaging app.
WhatsApp says the changes will help it better integrate with Facebook, but technology experts and privacy advocates have raised concerns about data security.
Here are four things about the problem:
How is the new WhatsApp privacy?
Under the new terms, WhatsApp reserves the right to share user data, including location and phone number, with its parent company Facebook Inc. and other apps owned by the social media giant: Instagram and Messenger. Data sharing was optional until now, but from February 8 it will be mandatory. Technology experts say the measure aims to monetize WhatsApp.
Why does it cause users to run away?
Many users are wary of the move, as Facebook has a poor track record in handling user data.
Some privacy activists asked WhatsApp users on Twitter to switch to apps like Signal and Telegram, questioning the “accept or remove data” movement.
Pavel Durov, founder of Russia-born Telegram, said: “People no longer want to change their privacy for free services.”
What are the benefits of other rival applications?
More than 100,000 users installed Signal in Apple and Google app stores in the past two days, while Telegram garnered nearly 2.2 million downloads, according to data analytics firm Sensor Tower.
WhatsApp’s new facilities fell 11% in the first seven days of 2021 compared to the previous week, but still totaled 10.5 million downloads worldwide, Sensor Tower said.
Both Telegram and Signal are encrypted messaging applications, which ensures better privacy. They do not allow outsiders or the platform itself to view the content of messages.
What does WhatsApp do about it?
The company tried to reassure users by saying in a blog post that WhatsApp cannot see their private messages or listen to their calls, nor can Facebook.
“We do not keep records of who everyone is sending messages or calls to. We can’t see your shared location or Facebook either, “he added.
According to WhatsApp, location data and message content are encrypted from end to end.
But other metadata such as call logs, location, financial information, etc. can be shared. if you use WhatsApp.
“We are giving companies the option to use secure Facebook hosting services to manage WhatsApp chats with their customers, answer questions and send useful information such as purchase receipts,” WhatsApp said in the message.
“Whether you’re communicating with a company by phone, email or WhatsApp, they can see what you’re saying and can use that information for their own marketing purposes, which may include advertising on Facebook.”