This isn’t the first time Facebook or one of its services has drawn the wrath of users, particularly over the management of their personal data. We remember the scandal (bitterly?) Cambridge Analytics this had huge consequences for the social network. But we don’t forget about less media-friendly cases either.
Collection of sensitive information absorbed by the website of the social network, wall street diary one year ago. The wealth of information gathered by Facebook Messenger, revealed by the magazine forbes A few days ago. Or repeated security flaws found in all of Mark Zuckerberg’s apps, such as Messenger, Instagram or WhatsApp.
And it’s definitely the latter that made the news this week. Indeed, Facebook has changed dramatically WhatsApp Privacy and Usage Policy. The app threatened its users with the termination of their accounts if they did not comply with these terms. Luckily it was fast rejected by facebookespecially in Europe where GDPR protects users’ personal information.
Boiled, WhatsApp users flee
Earlier in the day, we reported the statement of the person responsible for privacy questions on WhatsApp in our columns. He confirmed that Europeans don’t have to share with Facebook thanks to GDPR. However, the damage appears to have been done. A few signs Huge influx of WhatsApp users especially for competing services signal and Telegram.
A message posted on Twitter on January 7, 2021 by the Signal teams confirms strong congestion this weekend. Numerous registration requests have been made within hours, causing a significant delay in the distribution of verification codes for account verification. Since then, tension has eased and verification code requests are now processed normally.
Verification codes are currently lagging at a few providers as so many new people are trying to join Signal right now (we can barely save our excitement). We are working with carriers to resolve this as quickly as possible. Do not give up.
— Signal (@signalapp) January 7, 2021
However, it is no accident that Signal was chosen as an alternative to WhatsApp. It can’t rely on the same reputation as the big names in instant messaging, but Media support from Elon Muskwho recently became the richest man in the world, and Edward SnowdenFormer CIA agent turned informant.
