{"id":336272,"date":"2021-09-07T21:20:04","date_gmt":"2021-09-07T18:20:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/facebook-reads-and-shares-whatsapp-private-messages-report\/"},"modified":"2021-09-07T21:20:04","modified_gmt":"2021-09-07T18:20:04","slug":"facebook-reads-and-shares-whatsapp-private-messages-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/facebook-reads-and-shares-whatsapp-private-messages-report\/","title":{"rendered":"#Facebook reads and shares WhatsApp private messages: report"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;<strong>#<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook<\/a> reads and shares Whats<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">App<\/a> private messages: report<\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n        <\/aside>\n<p>Facebook\u2019s encrypted messaging service WhatsApp isn\u2019t as private as it claims, according to a new report.<\/p>\n<p>The popular chat app, which touts its privacy features, says parent Facebook can\u2019t read messages sent between users. But an <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/how-facebook-undermines-privacy-protections-for-its-2-billion-whatsapp-users\">extensive report by ProPublica <\/a>on Tuesday claims that Facebook is paying more than 1,000 contract workers around the world to read through and moderate WhatsApp messages that are supposedly private or encrypted. <\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s more, the company reportedly shares certain private data with law enforcement agencies, such as the US Department of Justice.  <\/p>\n<p>The revelation comes after Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg has repeatedly said that WhatsApp messages are not seen by the company. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t see any of the content in WhatsApp,\u201d the CEO said during testimony before the US Senate in 2018.<\/p>\n<p>Privacy is touted even when new users sign up for the service, with the app emphasizing that \u201cyour messages and calls are secured so only you and the person you\u2019re communicating with can read or listen to them, and nobody in between, not even WhatsApp.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThose assurances are not true,\u201d said the ProPublica report. \u201cWhatsApp has more than 1,000 contract workers filling floors of office buildings in Austin, Texas, Dublin and Singapore, where they examine millions of pieces of users\u2019 content.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/FACEBOOK-INVESTORS_.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"Mark Zuckerberg testifying before Congress\" class=\"wp-image-18654739\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/FACEBOOK-INVESTORS_.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/FACEBOOK-INVESTORS_.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/FACEBOOK-INVESTORS_.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Mark Zuckerberg has repeatedly assured WhatsApp users that no one can see their messages, but the company has a robust monitoring program.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">REUTERS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Facebook acknowledged that those contractors spend their days sifting through content that WhatsApp users and the service\u2019s own algorithms flag, and they often include everything from fraud and child porn to potential terrorist plotting. <\/p>\n<p>A WhatsApp spokeswoman told The Post: \u201cWhatsApp provides a way for people to report spam or abuse, which includes sharing the most recent messages in a chat. This feature is important for preventing the worst abuse on the internet. We strongly disagree with the notion that accepting reports a user chooses to send us is incompatible with end-to-end encryption.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>According to<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/faq.whatsapp.com\/general\/security-and-privacy\/about-blocking-and-reporting-contacts\"> WhatsApps\u2019s FAQ page,<\/a> when a user reports abuse, WhatsApp moderators are sent \u201cthe most recent messages sent to you by the reported user or group.\u201d ProPublica explained that because WhatsApp\u2019s messages are encrypted, artificial intelligence systems \u201ccan\u2019t automatically scan all chats, images and videos, as they do on Facebook and Instagram.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Instead, the report revealed that WhatsApp moderators gain access to private content when users hit the \u201creport\u201d button on the app, identifying a message as allegedly violating the platform\u2019s terms of service. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/whatsapp-001.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"WhatsApp logo on a phone.\" class=\"wp-image-19371377\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/whatsapp-001.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/whatsapp-001.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/whatsapp-001.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>When messages are reported by users, WhatsApp moderators are able to gain access to once-encrypted texts. <\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Gett<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This forwards five messages, including the allegedly offending one, along with the four previous ones in the exchange \u2014 plus any images or videos \u2014 to WhatsApp in unscrambled form, according to unnamed former WhatsApp engineers and moderators, who spoke to ProPublica. <\/p>\n<p>Aside from the messages, the workers see other unencrypted information such as names and profile images of a user\u2019s WhatsApp groups, as well as their phone number, profile photo status message, phone battery level, language and any related Facebook and Instagram accounts.<\/p>\n<p>Each reviewer handles upward of 600 complaints a day, which gives them less than a minute per case.\u00a0Reviewers can either do nothing, place the user on \u201cwatch\u201d for further scrutiny or ban the account.<\/p>\n<p>ProPublica said WhatsApp shares metadata, or unencrypted records that can reveal a lot about a user\u2019s online activity, with law enforcement agencies such as the Department of Justice.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/facebook-002.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"In this photo illustration, a person looks at a smart phone with a Facebook App logo displayed on the background\" class=\"wp-image-19371410\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/facebook-002.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/facebook-002.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/facebook-002.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Facebook has downplayed how much data it collects from WhatsApp users. <\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The outlet claimed that WhatsApp user data helped prosecutors build a high-profile case against a Treasury Department employee who leaked confidential documents to BuzzFeed <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> that exposed how dirty money allegedly flows through US banks.<\/p>\n<p>Like other social media platforms, WhatsApp is caught between users who expect privacy and law enforcement agencies that demand that such platforms hand over information that will help fight crime and online abuse.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart said in a recent interview that there\u2019s no conflict of interest. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think we absolutely can have security and safety for people through end-to-end encryption and work with law enforcement to solve crimes,\u201d Cathcart said in a\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=2KBQCsLDoBA\">YouTube interview<\/a>\u00a0with an Australian think tank in July.<\/p>\n<p>But the privacy issue isn\u2019t that simple. Since Facebook bought WhatsApp in 2014 for $19 billion, Zuckerberg has repeatedly assured users he would keep data private. Since then the company has walked a tightrope when it comes to privacy and monetizing data it collects from users of the free messaging app. <\/p>\n<p>In 2016, WhatsApp disclosed it would begin sharing user data with Facebook, a move that would allow it to generate revenue. The plan included sharing information such as users\u2019 phone numbers, profile photos, status messages and IPO addresses, so that Facebook could offer better friend suggestions and serve up more relevant ads, among other things. <\/p>\n<p>Such actions put Facebook on the radar of regulators, and in May 2017, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/commission\/presscorner\/detail\/en\/IP_17_1369\">European Union antitrust regulators fined the company<\/a>\u00a0$122 million for falsely claiming three years earlier that it would be impossible to link the user information between WhatsApp and the Facebook family of apps. Facebook said its false statements in 2014 were not intentional but it didn\u2019t contest the fine.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/facebook-003.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"This illustration photo shows the Facebook logo on a smartphone in front of a computer screen\" class=\"wp-image-19371425\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/facebook-003.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/facebook-003.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/facebook-003.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>In 2019, Facebook was slapped with a jaw-dropping $5 billion fine by the FTC over security and privacy concerns.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Facebook continued to be the target of security and privacy issues over time. In July 2019, that culminated in an eye-popping $5 billion fine by the Federal Trade Commission for violating a previous agreement to protect user privacy. <\/p>\n<p>The fine was almost 20 times greater than any previous privacy-related penalty, the FTC said at the time, and Facebook\u2019s wrongdoing included \u201cdeceiving users about their ability to control the privacy of their personal information.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Regardless, WhatsApp is still trying to figure a way to make money while guarding privacy. In 2019, the app announced it would run ads inside the app, but those controversial plans were abandoned days before the ads were set to launch.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, WhatsApp unveiled a change in its privacy policy that included a one-month deadline to accept the policy or get cut off from the app. The policy would allow users to directly message businesses on its platform. It required users to agree to those conversations being stored on Facebook servers, leading many users to think that Facebook would have access to their private chats.<\/p>\n<p>The concerns sparked massive backlash, causing\u00a0tens of millions of users to move\u00a0to rival apps such as Signal and Telegram.<\/p>\n<p>WhatsApp pressed forward with the change in February, but assured users that messages would remain private.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve seen some of our competitors try to get away with claiming they can\u2019t see people\u2019s messages \u2014 if an app doesn\u2019t offer end-to-end encryption by default that means they can read your messages,\u201d WhatsApp said on its blog. \u201cOther apps say they\u2019re better because they know even less information than WhatsApp. We believe people are looking for apps to be both reliable and safe, even if that requires WhatsApp having some limited data.\u201d\n                        <\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more News articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/09\/07\/facebook-reads-and-shares-whatsapp-private-messages-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#Facebook reads and shares WhatsApp private messages: report&#8221; Facebook\u2019s encrypted messaging service WhatsApp isn\u2019t as private as it claims, according to a new report. The popular chat app, which touts its privacy features, says parent Facebook can\u2019t read messages sent between users. But an extensive report by ProPublica on Tuesday claims that Facebook is paying&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":336273,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/whatsapp-002.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[15047,115541,71380,4974,70358,5077,72047],"class_list":["post-336272","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-privacy","tag-9-7-21","tag-digital-privacy","tag-facebook","tag-investigations","tag-mark-zuckerberg","tag-whatsapp"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336272","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=336272"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336272\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/336273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=336272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=336272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=336272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}