Will you continue to use WhatsApp after Feb. 8th?

[stooges44]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2021/01/09/stop-using-whatsapp-after-facebook-apple-imessage-and-signal-privacy-backlash/?sh=7212489a6cf5

[Shaya E]

Telegram doesn’t have access to my data. Facebook has access to all my data and doesn’t hide it, but that’s fine? Just look at the actions of the companies and the authoritarian countries. Why do you need whistle blowers in the US? Apple said that it complied with 96% of China’s petitions for account information. This was disclosed by Apple itself. WhatsApp operates freely in Iran and Russia. Telegram constantly gets banned from authoritarian countries because it can’t be controlled. If Iran and China are uncomfortable with Telegram, that makes me more comfortable using it.

Apple, Google, Facebook aren’t doing anything wrong. They’re literally doing what they say they would be doing when we clicked accept on the 428 pages of T&Cs. And that’s fine legally, but there’s still literally zero reason to trust them with my info. Oh, and they’re also a bunch of money-grabbing hypocritical power hungry bastards.

I typically value convenience over my privacy and will continue to use whatever is more convenient. That being said, every word in this post is accurate.

[stooges44]

[Kobe Bryant]

Telegram surpassed 500 million active users. In the past 72 hours alone, more than 25 million new users from around the world joined Telegram.

[Shaya E]

Telegram surpassed 500 million active users. In the past 72 hours alone, more than 25 million new users from around the world joined Telegram.

This probably has at least as much to do with the Parler problems as the WhatsApp update.

[AsherO]

This probably has at least as much to do with the Parler problems as the WhatsApp update.

I’ve been meaning to post here for a while (wasn’t sure where) that the two are related. They’re both a sign that Twitter feels more confidence/brazenness with the switch from R to D

[Yo ssi]

I’ve been meaning to post here for a while (wasn’t sure where) that the two are related. They’re both a sign that Twitter feels more confidence/brazenness with the switch from R to D

+1
Not to mention countless other stuff coming together at once.

[PlatinumGuy]

In regards to your cute comment about Telegram being from Russia

Deputy Ambassador of Russia to the UN:

Dear Mr Outgoing President @POTUS, you need to create a #Telegram account! Seems like you don’t enjoy freedom of speech in your own country any more! #WashingtonDC #Capitol #CapitolRiots #Facebook https://t.co/6DdMeRnBfC

— Dmitry Polyanskiy (@Dpol_un) January 7, 2021

?s=20

I use Telegram and am willing to risk big tech or Russia having my data, but it is interesting how easily people denounce every story in China saying we can't trust a word they say, yet readily accept anything a company with Russian founders tells them about their data and alleged legal fights with Russia. Perhaps if they go ahead with the $1b fundraise more reliable facts will emerge.

[Yo ssi]

Deputy Ambassador of Russia to the UN:

Dear Mr Outgoing President @POTUS, you need to create a #Telegram account! Seems like you don’t enjoy freedom of speech in your own country any more! #WashingtonDC #Capitol #CapitolRiots #Facebook https://t.co/6DdMeRnBfC

— Dmitry Polyanskiy (@Dpol_un) January 7, 2021

?s=20

I use Telegram and am willing to risk big tech or Russia having my data, but it is interesting how easily people denounce every story in China saying we can't trust a word they say, yet readily accept anything a company with Russian founders tells them about their data and alleged legal fights with Russia. Perhaps if they go ahead with the $1b fundraise more reliable facts will emerge.

It's impossible to be 100% certain of anything, but do some research. IMO Telegram is more likely to shut down before any government gets any data.

[PlatinumGuy]

It's impossible to be 100% certain of anything, but do some research. IMO Telegram is more likely to shut down before any government gets any data.

I agree they are unlikely to honor subpoenas, I just wouldn’t laugh off the ‘Russian’ tag as being untrue. I’m not saying it should be consequential, I for one don’t really care.

[aradisc]

It's impossible to be 100% certain of anything, but do some research. IMO Telegram is more likely to shut down before any government gets any data.

Also, folks, Durov (Telegram's founder) is NOT a free speech absolutist. Europol (EU law enforcement agency) has congratulated Telegram on how well it did to fight ISIS on the platform—they can do it if they want because TELEGRAM GROUPS ARE NOT ENCRYPTED.  https://t.co/IFksdzA9xr pic.twitter.com/CRzaimaPx2

— zeynep tufekci (@zeynep) January 13, 2021

[etech0]

Ordering a Pizza in 2022

CALLER:
    Is this Pizza Hut?
 
GOOGLE:   
No sir, it's Google Pizza.
 
CALLER: 
I must have dialed a wrong number, sorry.
 
GOOGLE: 
No sir, Google bought Pizza Hut last month.
 
CALLER: 
OK. I would like to order a pizza.
 
GOOGLE: 
Do you want your usual, sir?
 
CALLER:
My usual? You know me?
 
GOOGLE:
According to our caller ID data sheet, the last 12 times you called you ordered an extra-large pizza with three cheeses, sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms and meatballs on a thick crust.
 
CALLER: 
Super! That’s what I’ll have.
 
GOOGLE:
May I suggest that this time you order a pizza with ricotta, arugula, sun-dried tomatoes and olives on a whole wheat gluten-free thin crust?
 
CALLER: 
What? I don’t want a vegetarian pizza!
 
GOOGLE: 
Your cholesterol is not good, sir.
 
CALLER: 
How the hell do you know that?
 
GOOGLE:
Well, we cross-referenced your home phone number with your medical records. We have the result of your blood tests for the last 7 years.
 
CALLER:
Okay, but I do not want your rotten vegetarian pizza!  I already take medication for my cholesterol.
 
GOOGLE:
Excuse me sir, but you have not taken your medication regularly.  According to our database, you purchased only a box of 30 cholesterol tablets once at Lloyds Pharmacy, 4 months ago.
 
CALLER: 
I bought more from another Pharmacy.
 
GOOGLE: 
That doesn’t show on your credit card statement.
 
CALLER:
I paid in cash.
 
GOOGLE: 
But you did not withdraw enough cash according to your bank statement.
 
CALLER: 
I have other sources of cash.
 
GOOGLE:
That doesn’t show on your latest tax returns, unless you bought them using an undeclared income source, which is against the law!
 
CALLER:   
WHAT THE HELL!
 
GOOGLE: 
I'm sorry sir, we use such information only with the sole intention of helping you.
 
CALLER: 
Enough already!  I'm sick to death of Google, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and all the others.  I'm going to an island without the internet, TV, where there is no phone service and no one to watch me or spy on me.
 
GOOGLE:     
I understand sir, but you need to renew your passport first. It expired 6 weeks ago...

Welcome to the future

... and now they have your fitbit data

[PlatinumGuy]

... and now they have your fitbit data

Claiming the DOJ never got back to them before the deadline 

[Kobe Bryant]

WhatsApp is delaying the roll out of new business features following user backlash over the company's data sharing practices.

The delay is a setback for WhatsApp's plan to generate revenue by facilitating commercial exchanges on the messaging app, which Facebook acquired for $19 billion in 2014 but has been slow to monetize.

WhatsApp said on Friday users will no longer have to review and accept its updated terms by Feb. 8, nor will they have their accounts suspended or deleted by that date.

Since 2016, WhatsApp has shared certain information with Facebook, including your phone number, unless you were one of the select few users who chose to opt out of data sharing while the option was still available that year. WhatsApp does not, however, look at people’s chat messages or listen to their phone calls, and WhatsApp conversations are end-to-end encrypted to protect against those abuses.