[jllaneras]

WhatsApp is from Facebook and it implements the Signal protocol which offers end-to-end encryption. That's why Facebook with WhatsApp cannot do the same as Google does with Gmail. If they do, then their E2E encryption is fucked up.

[bigbugbag]

Whatsapp is from whatsapp inc, founded by two former yahoo emplyees, then facebook bought for 19 billions dollar. Very different from "being from facebook".

You can probably trust whatsapp end to end encryption as much as you can trust facebook to protect your privacy [1][2].

[1]: https://www.ghacks.net/2017/01/13/whatsapp-security-make-thi... [2]: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/israeli-firm-allegedly-selling-spy-...

[jllaneras]

I'm aware Facebook bought WhatsApp. I don't think that changes matters much though. WhatsApp is one of the "private channels" that Facebook Inc owns, and in Zuckerberg's manifesto [1] you can read:

"We are strong advocates of encryption and have built it into the largest messaging platforms in the world -- WhatsApp and Messenger."

My point is that "end-to-end encryption in private channels" and "using AI to analyze data in private channels" is incompatible.

[1] https://www.facebook.com/notes/mark-zuckerberg/building-glob...

[lightedman]

Who's to say that they aren't purposefully using encryption that they've made breakable so they can read the messages while making it difficult for anyone else to do so (other than the intended recipient?)

Historically speaking, Zuckerberg isn't trustworthy. The "Stupid fucks" comment from long ago should've been the first indicator of his shady character.

[newscracker]

Going on a tangent. I don't like Facebook as a company due to its policies. I wouldn't be surprised in the least if one of these days the WhatsApp end-to-end encryption is "discovered" as broken, followed by a quick scramble to explain it was a temporary glitch and that they found it quickly and closed it. It would just make the headlines for a day or two and then be forgotten. Most people using WhatsApp never cared about any kind of encryption or thought a lot about privacy, and most people using it now still don't.

[bigbugbag]

Hasn't that already happened a couple times ? (except they not pretended to a temporary glitch and fixed it, they just went and said this is not a security flaw, this is a feature!).

[ekianjo]

> WhatsApp is from Facebook and it implements the Signal protocol which offers end-to-end encryption

You have no way to know what is actually running on their servers.

[jllaneras]

True. It's possible they _might_ lie and they don't implement E2E encryption correctly.

However, saying that they implement E2E encryption and at the same time they will use AI to analyze what goes through the connection doesn't have to do with lies. It's just impossible. To analyze data you need to be able to read it. And you cannot read it if it's encrypted.

[tomdz]

Well, Whatsapp does have an app on your phone that can read your decrypted messages

[TeMPOraL]

That's WhatsApp, but I doubt it applies to Facebook Messenger.

[oxide]

I've always assumed my Facebook Messenger (and other private messages) were being monitored or otherwise datamined.

Corporate surveillance, with the intention of advertising to me no doubt, or selling what they can learn about me to advertisers.

I also assume any text messaging over Facebook Messenger can be used against me in a court of law. I don't imagine it's encrypted whatsoever.