[kamjam]

> Simple explanation would be that activists use Signal.

But why do activists simply not use WhatsApp, instead of Signal? If both were suppose to be fully encrypted and secure, why not use the tool that is available. I assume the needing encryption is to prevent the government snooping and eavesdropping on your plans rather than "liking the UI/UX of one system over the other"?

Maybe the activists know something we did not, and are right to be paranoid...

[hbosch]

I think the rule of thumb around here is that any system that is closed-source must be treated as inherently untrustworthy from a security standpoint. WhatsApp has therefore always been untrustworthy for the scrupulous, regardless of the relatively flattering PR.

[subliminalpanda]

Based on news like this, rightfully so.

[__derek__]

Facebook owns WhatsApp and has been increasingly hospitable to government intrusion on users' privacy. That seems like a good enough reason given that Facebook violated its pledge not to combine user data.