WhatsApp is forcing users to share data with Facebook
WhatsApp will soon start forcing users to share data with parent company Facebook.
WhatsApp, a universal messaging application, has been a staple name since it released for mobile devices roughly a decade ago. Since then, WhatsApp has seen quite the evolution, including its acquisition by Facebook. To this day, WhatsApp remains one of the most popular messaging services, but users may be turned off by a new update to the app. Soon, WhatsApp will begin forcing players to share their data with Facebook.
An announcement was sent to users on Wednesday, January 6 detailing the upcoming change. WhatsApp will soon be allowing Facebook and its subsidiaries to collect personal data from users. This includes phone numbers, locations, contacts, and more. What’s even more concerning, users do not have the option to opt out of the data collection. If WhatsApp users don’t agree to the new terms by February 8, they’ll lose access to the service.
It’s quite troubling, especially when WhatsApp’s biggest selling point was that it was an encrypted messaging service that offered more privacy than most other digital communication methods. In light of this news, users are already looking for alternatives. A coluple of names that keeps popping up are that of Telegram and Signal.
This is just the latest in a long string of actions that exemplifies troubling behavior in regards to user privacy from Facebook. Just last month, the FTC announced that it would be suing Facebook along with 46 other American states over illegal monopolization. The company’s acquisition of WhatsApp was cited as one of the reasons behind the lawsuit.
It’s yet to be seen how profound of an impact this decision will have on WhatsApp’s user base, or if Facebook could potentially roll back the new changes if given enough backlash from users. If and when further updates come, you can expect to read about them right here on Shacknews.
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replyDonovan Erskine posted a new article, WhatsApp is forcing users to share data with Facebook
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Here's my take:
Signal: Regarded as the most secure but lacks certain features in order to stay that secure, which can be offputting if you aren't Ed Snowden. For most things like basic chat\voice\video, it works great.
Telegram: Tons of features and robust clients, but is closed-source development and Russian owners/interest mean it may not be as secure as they claim. They are also beginning to monetize the platform which is always iffy.
Other options: WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Discord, Hangouts/Chat all have their own issues.
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Switch to directly contacting the people you care about.
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Via snailmail or smoke signals
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I joined Signal when one of my friends told me about it. I have never used it, and he has never contacted me on it. Everyone I know is still just using whatever default SMS app came with their phones.
I just recently switched from using Hangouts for texts to Google Messages (because Google.) As long as I can get SMS messages on my PC via the web I'm good. With Hangouts I got them on the Gmail page, but with Messages I have to open a separate web page. Whatever. -
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