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WhatsApp seems to scan my messages for personalized ads

4 points by ypeter 5y ago

pndy 5y ago
What stops you from changing the service and suggesting same thing to your friends and family? There are alternatives around
- ypeter 5y ago
  I do use Signal. But unfortunately I lack convincing power to make everyone else use Signal. But this is not about alternatives to WhatsApp, imo it's weird that this even happens/is possible.
  - hans_castorp 5y ago
    What do you expect from Facebook? They make their money with advertising, of course they will exploit and capitalize everything that gets send through their channels.
    - ypeter 5y ago
      I expect that they don't lie on their public website. This is what WhatsApp says on their own website https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/security-and-privacy/answering-your-questions-about-whatsapps-privacy-policy/?lang=en https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/security-and-privacy/answer... : Neither WhatsApp nor Facebook can read your messages or hear your calls with your friends, family, and co-workers on WhatsApp. Whatever you share, it stays between you. That’s because your personal messages are protected by end-to-end encryption. We will never weaken this security and we clearly label each chat so you know our commitment.
      - hans_castorp 5y ago
        Well they also promised to never exchange data between WhatsApp and Facebook when they bought WhatsApp. You simply can't believe any promise Facebook (or any FAANG company for that matter) makes regarding privacy or how they protect your personal data.
  - swiley 5y ago
    > it's weird that this even happens/is possible. It’s not. This will happen with any chat app that is locked to a single service. Stop using those.
    - ypeter 5y ago
      It's weird if even WhatsApp says it's not possible (see my other comment).
swiley 5y ago
Smartphone chat apps are not secure. Smartphones apps are much more like web pages than desktop apps and should be treated like web pages. If you have a secret to keep don’t share it with a phone.
- hans_castorp 5y ago
  There are plenty of secure alternatives to WhatsApp (Threema, Signal, Matrix just to name a few)
  - swiley 5y ago
    WhatsApp used to be one of those and it changed. With the exception of matrix there’s nothing to stop the same thing from happening with the others.
hans_castorp 5y ago
TL/TR: stop using WhatsApp
wartijn_ 5y ago
Are you sure you didn't see any ads about backpacks before?
- ypeter 5y ago
  Yes, I'm sure, not even camping related ads. I'm a hotel guy.

4 points by ypeter 5y ago

pndy 5y ago

What stops you from changing the service and suggesting same thing to your friends and family? There are alternatives around

ypeter 5y ago
I do use Signal. But unfortunately I lack convincing power to make everyone else use Signal. But this is not about alternatives to WhatsApp, imo it's weird that this even happens/is possible.
- hans_castorp 5y ago
  What do you expect from Facebook? They make their money with advertising, of course they will exploit and capitalize everything that gets send through their channels.
  - ypeter 5y ago
    I expect that they don't lie on their public website. This is what WhatsApp says on their own website https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/security-and-privacy/answering-your-questions-about-whatsapps-privacy-policy/?lang=en https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/security-and-privacy/answer... : Neither WhatsApp nor Facebook can read your messages or hear your calls with your friends, family, and co-workers on WhatsApp. Whatever you share, it stays between you. That’s because your personal messages are protected by end-to-end encryption. We will never weaken this security and we clearly label each chat so you know our commitment.
    - hans_castorp 5y ago
      Well they also promised to never exchange data between WhatsApp and Facebook when they bought WhatsApp. You simply can't believe any promise Facebook (or any FAANG company for that matter) makes regarding privacy or how they protect your personal data.
- swiley 5y ago
  > it's weird that this even happens/is possible. It’s not. This will happen with any chat app that is locked to a single service. Stop using those.
  - ypeter 5y ago
    It's weird if even WhatsApp says it's not possible (see my other comment).

swiley 5y ago

Smartphone chat apps are not secure. Smartphones apps are much more like web pages than desktop apps and should be treated like web pages. If you have a secret to keep don’t share it with a phone.

hans_castorp 5y ago
There are plenty of secure alternatives to WhatsApp (Threema, Signal, Matrix just to name a few)
- swiley 5y ago
  WhatsApp used to be one of those and it changed. With the exception of matrix there’s nothing to stop the same thing from happening with the others.

hans_castorp 5y ago

TL/TR: stop using WhatsApp

wartijn_ 5y ago

Are you sure you didn't see any ads about backpacks before?

ypeter 5y ago
Yes, I'm sure, not even camping related ads. I'm a hotel guy.