WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart refuted recent claims by Elon Musk that the Meta-owned messaging service exports users' data, underlining that Musk's claim was inaccurate.
Musk took to the platform X last week and said, "WhatsApp exports your user data every night. Some people still think it is secure."
Cathcart decried Musk's claim as wrong, while reiterating WhatsApp's stance on safety through the end-to-end encryption of messages and further noting that user data does not get transmitted or exported by the platform at any routine. We take security seriously, and that’s why we end-to-end encrypt your messages. They don’t get sent to us every night or exported to us,” said the WhatsApp head.
Cathcart clarified further, suggesting that users who wish to back up their messages can utilize their cloud provider, with the option of employing end-to-end encryption for added security.
'If you want to back up your messages you can use your cloud provider, and you can even use end-to-end encryption for that too,' Cathcart added, as he advised users to do so.
Some of the users, however, did not take Cathcart's statement for an answer as they said Musk's statement referred to user data and not specifically messages. One user remarked, “He said user data. He did not specify messages,” a user wrote.
Another commenter criticized Cathcart's reply, suggesting that it deviated from the core issue, stating,“That’s off-topic. The tweet says Meta exports user data – i.e., metadata like telecom providers collect. Will’s answer talks about content (which telecom providers don’t usually collect). Feels like misdirection, which is Meta modus operandi,” another user said.
Echoing similar sentiments, another user emphasized, “You’re misleading. It’s user data, including metadata, not messages.”
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