[djl0]

If Iran is blocking Signal but not other apps, namely Whatsapp, does this mean Iran has access to Whatsapp data?

I fully expect the US govt to have access to fb/whatsapp data (at least the metadata), but it's a bit surprising to me that Iran would too.

[danenania]

I think FB’s policy is to comply with local laws regardless of ethical concerns?

[benlivengood]

There are a few requests reported:

https://transparency.facebook.com/government-data-requests/c...

[mzs]

which you can't read without a FB account! In any case 6 users/accounts in fist half of 2020

[xirbeosbwo1234]

I think FB's policy is to _____(verb)_____ regardless of ethical concerns.

They certainly aren't complying with U.S. antitrust laws. They comply if it makes them money and don't comply if it doesn't make them money.

[beermonster]

Well...

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/18/world/middleeast/iran-hac...

[ParanoidShroom]

I doubt it. By the same reasoning they would also have access to iMessage and other apps that aren't banned. Not sure what WhatsApp or fb has to do with this.

[2cb]

Considering Apple put all data of Chinese users on Chinese servers to keep the CCP happy I have no doubt they’re perfectly happy and willing to comply with government requests elsewhere too.

[twhb]

Iran blocks every major foreign messaging app, except WhatsApp. Signal escaped it until now only because they had so few users. Also keep in mind that while WhatsApp claims to use the Signal protocol, they installed a backdoor that allows them to MITM conversations. So yes, I’d say it’s virtually guaranteed that WhatsApp is sending unencrypted message data to Iran, and of course to the US too.

[kolmogorov]

https://signal.org/blog/there-is-no-whatsapp-backdoor/

[twhb]

HN discussion of that post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13394900

I guess I'm coming down hard on one side of a controversial question, but in my mind, if it allows the server to intercept messages without users knowing about it under the default configuration, it's a backdoor.

[egberts]

“There’s no backdoor.”

— Perhaps the door is cracked (or ajar) and a microphone is listening in ... still?

[oarsinsync]

> [WhatsApp] installed a backdoor that allows them to MITM conversations

Citation?