With the advent of chains on WhatsApp, the messaging app is breaking one of its key promises: encrypting all data, by default.
” Privacy and security are in our genes “. These are the comments that WhatsApp boasted about having end-to-end encryption built into its app since 2016. In this mode, all messages of internet users are protected and private. No one can see them, not even WhatsApp.
In this field, the application is one of the most advanced in the field. But the arrival of WhatsApp channels will somewhat disrupt this principle that has made the service iconic in recent years. Similar to the channels on Telegram that allow you to share messages with other users, WhatsApp hopes to provide an equivalent solution. In a published article On June 8, 2023, the app launched its service as a “ A simple, reliable and private way to receive important messages from people and companies on our site. »
To allow these chains, this new feature does not include end-to-end encryption by default.” To reach a wider audience “. This is offered as an option, but you should think about its implementation. The app ensures that the personal information of channel administrators and their followers is protected. A channel administrator will not see the phone numbers and profile pictures of people subscribed to the channel.
Chip phone number will not be disclosed to channel follower, channel admin or other followers. Users’ preferences are also unique in the channels they follow. In some channels where the viewership is low, WhatsApp thinks end-to-end encryption of channels can be useful. It can be non-profit or healthcare organizations.
Data security is paramount
Even with end-to-end encryption enabled, the advent of chains is a departure from corporate American communications. If subscribers cannot talk in a channel (only the administrator can), there is uncertainty about the confidentiality of these channels. The fact that they are not end-to-end encrypted means that the information shared on them is visible to unwanted third parties.
In an application that has always emphasized the confidentiality of data shared between users, the arrival of chains risks creating relative confusion in the public mind. By disabling end-to-end encryption by default, Internet users find themselves in a situation where both scenarios are mixed. Not conducive to clear vision.
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