WhatsApp rejects privacy claims, says encryption keeps messages inaccessible even to the company
WhatsApp refutes claims it can access user messages, asserting its end-to-end encryption, powered by the Signal protocol, ensures privacy.Summary
WhatsApp has strongly denied allegations in a recent class-action lawsuit that it can access users’ private messages. The company calls the claims “categorically false and absurd,” emphasizing that its end-to-end encryption, utilizing the Signal protocol for a decade, prevents even WhatsApp itself from reading chats. The lawsuit alleges Meta can collect and analyze user communications despite encryption, but WhatsApp clarifies a distinction between message content – which it states it cannot access – and metadata used for service improvement.
The encryption process secures chats on the sender’s device, decryptable only by the recipient, with keys stored solely on those devices. WhatsApp also highlights the option for users to enable end-to-end encrypted backups on Google Drive or iCloud, further protecting their data. While WhatsApp analyzes feature usage to improve the app and responds to law enforcement requests, it maintains it does not log who users message or call.
Competitors like Telegram’s Pavel Durov and Elon Musk have criticized WhatsApp’s security, but WhatsApp points to statements from its head, Will Cathcart, and independent cryptography experts who dispute the lawsuit’s technical claims. The case reignites the ongoing debate about privacy and trust in large tech platforms, reminding users to manually enable features like encrypted backups for maximum protection.
(Source：THE WEEK)