WhatsApp boss Will Cathcart has hit again at claims from Elon Musk that the messaging app “exports your consumer information each night time.”
Posting on X, Mr Cathcart stated the allegation was merely “not appropriate”.
He pointed to the very fact WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted, that means they can’t be learn by the corporate in any respect.
Yann LeCun – synthetic intelligence chief at father or mother firm, Meta – has additionally weighed in, utilizing extra industrial language in his X put up attacking Mr Musk’s claims.
On one other Meta platform, Threads, Mr LeCun additionally levelled additional criticisms at Mr Musk, accusing him of constructing contradictory and unrealistic claims about synthetic intelligence and “spewing conspiracy theories” on his personal social media platform.
Mr Musk has a well-established status for getting himself into on-line rows, from submariners to sacked former staff.
On this case, Mr Cathcart is correct to say solely the sender and recipient of a WhatsApp message can learn its contents.
Actually, the agency’s dedication to encrypting messages is so vital that it beforehand stated it will somewhat be blocked within the UK than weaken the encryption it makes use of.
Mr Musk’s imprecise language – merely saying that “consumer information” was being uploaded – may nevertheless be interpreted to discuss with metadata, the additional bits of knowledge despatched alongside the precise message.
“WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted, however consumer information isn’t solely about messages,” stated safety researcher Tommy Mysk in a put up on X.
“That additionally consists of the metadata akin to consumer location, which contacts the consumer is speaking with, the patterns of when the consumer is on-line, and many others.”
It’s identified that WhatsApp does share some metadata with different platforms Meta owns – however this doesn’t embrace messages.
“One space of explicit concern has been WhatsApp sharing information with different Meta corporations,” stated Dr Tristan Henderson, lecturer in laptop science on the College of St Andrews.
“This does embrace adequate metadata for these Meta corporations to make options and present personalised adverts, which in itself exhibits what metadata can reveal.”
The WhatsApp Privateness Coverage particularly states that the agency will use some consumer information for “exhibiting related gives and adverts throughout the Meta Firm Merchandise”.
The BBC has approached Meta for remark.
