WhatsApp no longer "private" huge changes coming

[Fakhri-bin-Ali]

Anyone here on Telegram? Element? other open-source platforms?

We (extended family, nephews, nieces, etc) all are now using telegram but we hadn't realised that searching contacts gives people the option to find strangers nearby or even anywhere else.

That's the only gripe we have with it, which is kind of a big one, Once tweaked, it's pretty much the same if not better than WhatsApp in a few ways, other than that.

[notEVOLVED]

We (extended family, nephews, nieces, etc) all are now using telegram but we hadn't realised that searching contacts gives people the option to find strangers nearby or even anywhere else.

That's the only gripe we have with it, which is kind of a big one, Once tweaked, it's pretty much the same if not better than WhatsApp in a few ways, other than that.

You could use a different client that doesn't have that feature. Such as Telegram X.

[notEVOLVED]

Telegram has the best desktop client.

[AbuMubarak]

Facebook, WhatsApp

Always something

[Munabbih]

Anyone here on Telegram? Element? other open-source platforms?

السلام عليكم

Element is open source, decentralized, end-to-end encrypted (EE2E), encrypted private + group chats, widgets, video+audio calls. In addition, unlike telegram, phone numbers are optional & all you need to sign up is a username.

This is a useful link for alternative apps:

https://alternativeto.net/software/whatsapp/

[noobz]

i like how everyone thinks since they use signal or telegram then they are safe ... the moment you connect to the internet, you lost all privacy buddy.

cope with it, no ones even bothering to watch you btw.

and fb pixel just classifies you just like google with their cookie, it makes the job of showing you relevant ads easier which then changes into $$$ for fb as they are doing their job of being an ads and publishing company.

no idea why everyone feels they are special and we need your data as if its going to make us trillionaires...

[AbuMubarak]

Noobz,

That defeatist, fatalist attitude is what Google & Facebook want

Wakeup akhi

You don't lie down, you stand up

[AbuMubarak]

And yes you are correct, signing on to the internet exposes SOME of you

But they want ALL of you

You have to decide how much you are willing to give

[Munabbih]

السلام عليكم

The Matrix official privacy page contains the following information:

"...2.2 What Information Do You Collect About Me and Why?


The information we collect is purely for the purpose of providing your communication service via Matrix. We do **not** profile users or their data on the Service.

Be aware that while we do not profile users on the Service, third party Matrix clients may gather usage data. The Element app (the Matrix client provided by Element) optionally gathers opt-in anonymised usage data in order to improve the app. This data is retained for not longer than 13 months. For more details on how your data is processed by Element, please review its privacy policy.
2.2.1 Information you provide to us:


We collect information about you when you input it into the Service or otherwise provide it directly to us.
2.2.1.1 Account and Profile Information


We collect information about you when you register for an account. This information is kept to a minimum on purpose, and is restricted to:

• Username
• Password
• Display Name (if you choose to provide one)
• Your email address (which we may mandate to mitigate abuse)
• Your verified telephone number (if you choose to provide it)

Your username and password is used to authenticate your access to the Service and to uniquely identify you within the Service.

Your password is stored until you change it or your account is deactivated (see 2.5 for details on how passwords are handled securely). Your username is stored indefinitely to avoid account recycling.

Your email address is used for account verification purposes. You can delete your email from your account after you have registered and verified, if you so wish. Alternatively, your email address may be used for the purposes described below:

• We will also use your email address to let you reset your password if you forget it, and to optionally send you notifications about missed messages from users trying to contact you on Matrix;
• We may also send you infrequent urgent messages about platform updates.

2.2.1.2 Content you provide through using the Service


We store and distribute the messages and files you share using the Service (and across the wider Matrix ecosystem via federation) as described by the Matrix protocol and according to the access rules configured within the system. Storing and sharing this content is the reason the Service exists.

This content includes any information about yourself that you choose to share...."

Source: https://matrix.org/legal/privacy-notice


According to the same source "...The public Matrix Network is a decentralised and openly federated communication network. This means that user messages are replicated on each participant's server and messages posted to a room are visible to all participants including in some cases any new joiners..."

An issue maybe e.g., metadata being shared between servers if parties are on different servers.

This is some info. on data retention policies:

https://github.com/matrix-org/synaps...on_policies.md


Info. from 'Companies House' on the names behind 'The Matrix Foundation':

https://find-and-update.company-info...mpany/11648710

[Gingerbeardman]

I find it quite funny people thought there data was secure before. Only difference now is they're sharing with FB.

[zi-zizou]

I find it quite funny people thought there data was secure before. Only difference now is they're sharing with FB.

You don't pay billions for an app and then not use the data. The data has been consumed 6 years and counting.