At least if its possible to use a foss client you can interact with WhatsApp users without needing their shitty spyware app.
this post was submitted on 10 Feb 2024
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Actually that article says third-party chats, not third-party clients. I don't think they are gonna open their proprietary api for everyone. ๐ค
Isn't that effectively the same thing for people wanting to not use WhatsApp, you'd still be using a different client to speak to people on whatsapp?
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Exactly, making everyone to switch over to something else is impossible...l'll uninstall it as soon as they roll this out
Already uninstalled. ๐
Can I have a tldr? Does that mean i will be able to message my whatsapp contacts from a more private app e.g. signal without compromising my privacy?
Since Signal also uses phone numbers as account ID, you'll give that to WhatsApp at least. Then they continue to track metadata of the messages sent between you and your WhatsApp contacts and will be profiling you.
I don't see how communicating with any Meta service isn't compromising privacy. I'm a Signal user and won't connect to WhatsApp.
At least WhatsApp won't be able to monitor app usage patterns or scan my filesystem and contacts. Seems at least a bit better than the alternative assuming you have contacts who insist on or have a strong preference for WhatsApp
But for that signal need to comply with whatsapps request to integrate signal messaging with whatsapp api according to their terms and conditions. (Probably share details from signal users, which affects privacy) otherwise it would be unable to sent cross-platform messages. Also it breaks encryption at all cost.
According to the article, WhatsApp requires the Signal Protocol for message encryption.
Signal is the single third party that shouldn't have a problem with that since it's been using that protocol before WhatsApp adopted it, too (they hired Moxi himself to help them do it, remember?)
Signal and whatsapp is developed from same developer. They only thing they have same is encryption protocol and nothing more. If users of whatsapp need to contact with signal users they need to agree with certain toc and rebuilt the app. Practically, no signal user will wish to communicate with whatsapp users bcz of lacking encryption and data privacy issues. I dont believe this third party chatting idea of whatsapp won't work bcz signal and other popular messengers like matrix,tg is for privacy and security. Also i don't think that no platforms will support this idea of whatsapp as chrome proposed FLOC.
What could WhatsApp be getting, other than the Signal user's phone number and the date and time of encrypted messages?
I don't believe signal will comply with this idea. So no need to worry.
First step: Embrace
For normies ๐