WhatsApp Messages are End-to-End Encrypted and Not Scanned to Generate Ads: Elon Musk’s Claim is Wrong
Very recently, we came across more details concerning the launch of the XChat standalone messaging app and as part of it, Elon Musk made the statement that WhatsApp uses message contents to generate advertisements. This is simply not true as all the messages being shared on WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted, and are not scanned or analyzed by any means.
Read more about it in detail below.
Elon Musk’s Claim Regarding WhatsApp Scanning Messages is Wrong!
It is with the goal to further expand the capabilities of X that the standalone messaging app – XChat is being brought out and the app will be taking its competition directly with WhatsApp (as well as other similar apps). Features like Bitcoin-similar peer-to-peer-based encryption system, no hooks for advertising, zero ads, zero data proofing, and more are projected to be a few of its key aspects. During his podcast session with Joe Rogan, Elon Musk made the statement – “Apps like WhatsApp have advertising hooks and know what you are texting to decide which ads to show you, which is a massive security vulnerability,” and this has sparked a lot of discussion regarding the authenticity of Elon Musk’s claim.
First thing’s first, this claim was made without actually sharing any proofs regarding it and on top this, all WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted – meaning WhatsApp nor any other third parties can access and read them. Furthermore, WhatsApp has also already clarified that the ads shown in the Updates tab are being displayed based on certain limited information (like general location, device language, and channels being followed). Speaking more, adding an extra layer of protection, WhatsApp also offers its users encrypted backups too, and recently the new passkey-encrypted chat backups feature was also introduced.
To sum up, WhatsApp as noted above does not rely on its users’ private message or contents to generate ads, and Elon Musk has just simply shared misinformation so as to promote his new product.
