65
The Day WhatsApp Goes Dark (マリウス.com)
submitted 3 months ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
25 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

A thought experiment in what we built without noticing.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 81 points 3 months ago (9 children)

Unfortunately WhatsApp managed to take hold of the Zeitgeist during the early 2010s when some European carriers were still charging for texts or charging lots for data.

The fact Meta was allowed to buy WhatsApp is a travesty. We're supposed to just trust that Meta isn't lying when it says it isn't looking at the E2EE keys? Come on. We have literal governments using it as a communication tool.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 9 child comments
    •
  • [–] 19 points 3 months ago (2 children)

    Not Europe, but the non-western world. Ask anyone from Brazil or the Philippines.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 7 points 3 months ago

    They don't even have to look at the keys, they have the app, can encrypt your messages with their key, or send the plain text contents separately, or who knows what else. Plus your recipients are not encrypted like in signal for instance where security is a foundational requirement. Anyone done any sort of audit?

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 4 points 3 months ago (4 children)

    European carriers are still charging for sms messages. Luckily RCS now kind of exists.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
    •
  • [–] 2 points 3 months ago (3 children)

    Yes and no. All plans still include SMS but they're very cheap, sadly they're not much used anymore cause everyone uses WA or other apps. Some don't even read or respond to SMS, which is maddening to me because what's the fucking difference?

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
    •
  • [–] 4 points 3 months ago (2 children)

    SMS is pretty antiquated tech in a way and just made basically obsolete with internet-based messengers.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago (1 child)

    That's true, but the difference is that internet is not required to use them, you just need a phone plan. What I don't get is why some people use Whatsapp, Telegram, Messenger etc. which have basically the same interface and functionality, but not SMS.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago

    Because they already have an internet plan, and internet coverage is ubiquitous around them. So SMS is just a slower, more expensive option with fewer features.

    I don't think I've sent an SMS to someone in 10 years now, that's how "ancient" it is to most people around here. It's like sending a fax, reputation wise.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent