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| Facebook denies violating WhatsApp users' privacy |
Facebook has confirmed that all WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted, and the report by the non-profit investigative organization ProPublica is based on an apparent misunderstanding.
According to the report, business managers can view users' posts, photos, and videos. However, this is possible when the message is reported.
If the recipient of the message uses the WhatsApp reporting function, the message will be automatically forwarded to Facebook. Technically, this is no different from manual sending of messages.
At this point the message is decrypted. Sending the report creates a new end-to-end encrypted message that is sent to the company, and the company keeps the key as the intended recipient of the message.
ProPublica reports this as if the confidentiality of the message has been breached.
The report says: The confirmation that automatically appeared on the screen before the user sent the message said that anyone outside the chat, even WhatsApp, could not read or listen to it.
The ProPublica report states: This data is false. WhatsApp has more than 1,000 employees who analyze millions of user content. These employees use special Facebook software to filter out private feeds, photos, and videos that have been flagged as inappropriate by WhatsApp users. It is then checked by the company's artificial intelligence system. These entrepreneurs usually judge everything that appears on their screens in less than a minute, from scams or spam to any allegations of child pornography and potential terrorist programs.
The report also cites a confidential whistleblower complaint filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission last year.
The complaint states that WhatsApp uses third-party vendors, artificial intelligence systems, and account information to filter users' messages, photos, and videos.
Facebook denies violating WhatsApp users' privacy
Something that users may not know. When you select a message, not only will the message be forwarded, but the first four messages from the same chat will also be forwarded. It's about giving brokers the knowledge to properly evaluate them.
A misunderstanding may arise during the investigation as the admin can see the Facebook messages but not WhatsApp. But ProPublica claims that the director of WhatsApp communications, Carl Woog, has admitted that the team of contractors will examine WhatsApp messages to identify and address the most serious violations.
It's worth noting that a ProPublica report shows that WhatsApp admins can only access tagged messages.
"We've built WhatsApp in a way that limits the data we collect while providing us with tools to prevent spam, investigate threats, and deter attackers," a Facebook spokesperson said.
The spokesperson noted that WhatsApp has launched new privacy features, including better control over how people's messages are hidden or shown only once.
“Based on the feedback we receive from users, we believe that people understand that what they send to WhatsApp is what we get when they communicate with them.”
Facebook said that WhatsApp moderators can read messages reported by a user. This behavior is clearly defined in the data protection declaration. The company confirmed that it cannot see any other unreported messages.