Zuckerberg really wants iPhone users to shift to WhatsApp

Posted:
in General Discussion edited October 2022
A campaign from Meta-owned WhatsApp says iMessage is less secure, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg pushing incorrect claims about the Apple messaging service.

Zuckerberg calls WhatsApp more private and secure than iMessage
Zuckerberg calls WhatsApp more private and secure than iMessage


An advertisement displayed above Penn Station is making the rounds with heads of Meta and WhatsApp pushing the message. It suggests that WhatsApp is a more secure and private alternative to iMessage.

The advertisement shows text bubbles models after Apple's Messages app, one in green and one in blue. A third bubble shows "private bubble" suggesting that WhatsApp is a truly private platform.

Mark Zuckerberg posted an image of this advertisement on his Instagram with text calling WhatsApp "a far more private and secure" platform. Cross-platform encrypted messaging with Android and disappearing chats are the reasonings behind his claim.

The post also calls out Apple's iCloud backups containing iMessage encryption keys. However, it incorrectly suggests that iPhone users do not have an option for end-to-end encrypted backups.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mark Zuckerberg (@zuck)

It is true that iPhone users cannot have encrypted conversations with Android users over iMessage. Apple has not adopted the RCS standard, which enables encrypted messaging in certain circumstances, nor has Apple offered iMessage support to Android.

Disappearing messages are a gimmick offered by other messaging platforms like WhatsApp. It isn't clear why this is being promoted as a "more private" feature when it is prone to abuse.

Apple's iMessage does have an option to delete sent messages as long as it is done within three minutes. However, if sexually explicit material, threats, or other abusive material is sent and then deleted, users lack the data to act on that abuse.

The most inaccurate statement made by Zuckerberg is the one about end-to-end encrypted backups. If an iPhone user chooses to, they can back up their iPhone locally to a computer with encryption.

If a user opts into iCloud backups, then the encryption key for iMessage is included in the backup. This is meant to protect users from themselves, so Messages aren't lost if a password is forgotten.

However, Apple's method does mean governments can subpoena Apple for information from a person's encrypted iMessages stored in iCloud backup. Apple says it only complies with data requests specific to a case and doesn't reveal any information outside of the provided scope.

A series of Tweets from WhatsApp head Will Cathcart made similar claims to Zuckerberg. He even incorrectly suggested that iMessage would fall back to SMS without warning or consent -- even though there is a toggle for that.

Meta and Google are both fighting against Apple's dominant iMessage platform using half-truths and colorful ads. Both companies seem to believe that they can convince users that their platforms are safe and secure despite years of collecting and monetizing user data.

Read on AppleInsider
hecalder
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 31
    lkrupplkrupp Posts: 10,557member
    Zuckerberg talking about user security makes me think of an old novel by George Orwell but I can’t remember what it was... /s
    cg27JanNLAnilu_777magman1979jas99mike1williamlondonJaiOh81macseekerbloggerblog
  • Reply 2 of 31
    Zuck doing something deceitful and underhanded… you don’t say? 
    magman1979jas99JaiOh81macseekerhecaldertwokatmewjahbladeiqatedoscstrrfwatto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 31
    Conveniently forgets to mention that WhatsApp also uses iCloud to backup chats. And if you have that feature turned off, WhatsApp will regularly pester you to turn it on
    jas99JaiOh81macseekerbloggerbloghecaldertwokatmewjahbladeiqatedoscstrrfwatto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 31
    blastdoorblastdoor Posts: 3,276member
    Zuckerberg and Meta have zero credibility. 

    From my point of view, the main chink in Apple's credibility armor has been their dependence on China. With almost all of Apple's product assembly taking place in China, I have worried that Apple might find it very difficult to refuse demands from the CCP/PLA/Xi. But it sounds like Apple is diversifying away from China, so hopefully that vulnerability will be reduced. 
    magman1979jas99AMayfieldmacseekerhecaldertwokatmewwilliamhCluntBaby92entropysqwerty52
  • Reply 5 of 31
    Nnnnnnnnnnnope!

    But good luck with that, AdBook.
    jas99macseekerhecalderjahbladebaconstangqwerty52watto_cobraAlex1N
  • Reply 6 of 31
    AniMillAniMill Posts: 155member
    Is that unsecured, or insecure? 😎
    jas99williamlondonAlex_Vwatto_cobraAlex1Njony0
  • Reply 7 of 31
    DAalsethDAalseth Posts: 2,783member
    Lies, damned lies, and then there’s Zuckerburg

    He couldn’t even SPELL the word ethics.
    edited October 2022 hecaldertwokatmewjahbladebaconstangscstrrfAndy.Hardwakewatto_cobraAlex1Njony0
  • Reply 8 of 31
    keithwkeithw Posts: 140member
    Ummmm..... NFW!
    hecalderbaconstangwatto_cobra
  • Reply 9 of 31
    22july201322july2013 Posts: 3,570member
    "Fecebook."
    lordjohnwhorfinhecalderJapheyzeus423dewmewatto_cobraAlex1N
  • Reply 10 of 31
    omasouomasou Posts: 572member
    Zuckerberg really wants iPhone users to shift to WhatsApp

    Of course he does :D

    ...disappearing chats...

    Disappearing after they run it through their AI and Analytics.  :*

    edited October 2022 AMayfieldgeekmeehecaldertwokatmewjahbladeiqatedoqwerty52scstrrfwatto_cobraAlex1N
  • Reply 11 of 31
    One could argue that, given Apple‘s loudness about privacy and security, the „send as SMS“ feature should be turned off by default and only activated by a user’s conscious choice to allow insecure transmission of information. I think that would make more sense. Surprised that no one has come up with a lawsuit for this…
    hecalderAlex1Njony0
  • Reply 12 of 31
    lkrupplkrupp Posts: 10,557member
    One could argue that, given Apple‘s loudness about privacy and security, the „send as SMS“ feature should be turned off by default and only activated by a user’s conscious choice to allow insecure transmission of information. I think that would make more sense. Surprised that no one has come up with a lawsuit for this…
    It has become plainly obvious that the general public does not give a rat’s ass about privacy or security for two reasons.

    1. Chrome is the world’s most popular web browser.
    2. Android is the world’s most popular mobile operating system.


    bloggerbloghecalderzeus423twokatmewbaconstangentropysqwerty52scstrrfAndy.Hardwakewatto_cobra
  • Reply 13 of 31
    Why is it that proven liars,
    expect people to believe their truth?
    ‘But it’s different this time.’
    said Zuckeree to the sucker.
    edited October 2022 hecaldertwokatmewjahbladescstrrfAndy.Hardwakewatto_cobraAlex1Njony0
  • Reply 14 of 31
    MadbumMadbum Posts: 536member
    Lol , ok we trust you zuckerberg

    go back to your fake leg Mets verse crap lol 
    hecalderJaiOh81watto_cobraAlex1N
  • Reply 15 of 31
    Never. Cray AB it Zucky 😢
    watto_cobraAlex1N
  • Reply 16 of 31
    Sure, let me turn all my text messages over to Meta.  Sounds just fine.   
    hecalderMadbumtwokatmewjahbladebaconstangqwerty52watto_cobraAlex1Njony0
  • Reply 17 of 31
    mattinozmattinoz Posts: 2,315member
    Then how about making the UI and UX not suck like some second tier 90's chat app. 
    edited October 2022 hecalderscstrrfwatto_cobra
  • Reply 18 of 31
    JFC_PAJFC_PA Posts: 932member
    Then he can pay us. 

    watto_cobra
  • Reply 19 of 31
    danoxdanox Posts: 2,841member
    blastdoor said:
    Zuckerberg and Meta have zero credibility. 

    From my point of view, the main chink in Apple's credibility armor has been their dependence on China. With almost all of Apple's product assembly taking place in China, I have worried that Apple might find it very difficult to refuse demands from the CCP/PLA/Xi. But it sounds like Apple is diversifying away from China, so hopefully that vulnerability will be reduced. 
    Be more worried by the E.U. and the USA when their done with Apple, Apple like Samsung won’t have any smartphone sales in China, however all the Chinese companies in every category will continue to get a bigger and bigger share of everything else in the rest of the world.
    edited October 2022
  • Reply 20 of 31
    One could argue that, given Apple‘s loudness about privacy and security, the „send as SMS“ feature should be turned off by default and only activated by a user’s conscious choice to allow insecure transmission of information. I think that would make more sense. Surprised that no one has come up with a lawsuit for this…
    It is off by default when setting up a device for the first time. Truth.
    dewmescstrrfwatto_cobraAlex1N
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