As we discussed the Apple’s new move of privacy education to its users via the App Privacy section on its App Store in our last article, the world has woken up to the new updates in the Privacy Policy of WhatsApp. The new policy explains the need for WhatsApp to mine on your data. However, the new policy basically leaves just two options to WhatsApp users: either agree to the usage of your WhatsApp data (more specifically your metadata) to be shared with Facebook and Facebook group of companies or just leave the app. Pretty much simple!
This new policy update from WhatsApp has come as a shocking news to the 2 billion users globally. Given the record of Facebook privacy allegations in its past, WhatsApp users worried about the impact of such an update with growing integrations between Facebook Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp. Adding to the woes is the talks of business collaborations that WhatsApp is eying shortly.
WhatsApp users can either agree to the new policy thereby sharing their data with Facebook and Facebook group of companies or quit using WhatsApp within February 8, 2021. So, the decision to either keep using WhatsApp or to move towards an alternative has become the talk of the town. Fortunately for us, the never-ending battle of which app being the most secure and private messaging platform now has a definite and an objective conclusion backed with factually concrete data, thanks to Apple’s new App Privacy! (Ironically, the concrete data to this claim is based on how less the apps collect data from you 😜😂)
In this article, we lay down the instant messaging platform alternatives along with the data and type of data that the apps collect via your device (as reported by Apple’s App Privacy section on App Store). The decision to choose yours is all yours though!
Though the Facebook owned instant messaging behemoth, WhatsApp doesn’t use or share your data per se, various information on your data such as your usage diagnostics, financial information (if enrolled for WhatsApp payments), and your contacts are collected and mapped to you. The new policy which will be in effect from February 8, 2021 will use or share these data to Facebook and Facebook group of companies which includes Instagram and other AI platforms. Apple’s App Privacy section lists 9 types of data being collected and mapped to you via WhatsApp mobile app.
Available on: Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, KaiOS, Web platform
Facebook Messenger
Facebook’s direct messaging platform, Facebook Messenger is currently the second most popular messaging app next only to WhatsApp. With almost 1.3 billion active monthly users, and almost one out of seven people in our world is on Facebook, it is a no brainer to prefer the second most popular app. However, the stakes at risk are higher here. The Facebook Messenger is directly under the shared policies of Facebook and collects more data than WhatsApp does.
The data collected via Facebook Messenger includes your browsing history, search history, location history, and perhaps everything that WhatsApp does. All such data are mapped to you and can be used by Facebook and Facebook group of companies to provide you targeted ads.
Apple’s App Privacy section lists more than 10 types of data being collected and mapped to via Facebook Messenger mobile app.
Available on: Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Web platform
WeChat is the third most popular messaging app with nearly 1.2 billion monthly active users. The Tencent backed Chinese app is often described as the ‘Super app’ or ‘App for everything’ as it offers almost every social platform requirement. In simpler terms, WeChat can be loosely seen as a Chinese app with Facebook, WhatsApp, and PayPal all stitched together.
Though being named as the ‘World’s largest standalone mobile app’, the Chinese app is known for its privacy breaches with open allegations against the parent company using it for mass surveillance in China. Also, recent ban on Chinese Apps in India and ban on payment transactions in USA have halted the growth of WeChat recently.
Apple’s App Privacy section lists 11 types of data being collected and mapped to you via WeChat mobile app.
Available on: Android, iOS, macOS, Windows
Snapchat
Snapchat leads the charts at 5th most popular app worldwide. Snapchat is often the most preferred messaging platform of the millennials. The unique feature of Snapchat is the disappearing messages. Pictures and messages sent or received between individuals are by default deleted once the chat is closed (unless saved by either of the user). Teenagers and users prefer Snapchat for sharing momentary pictures. The app works only on mobile devices and not on any other devices.
Though there isn’t much of a historical data usage value associated with Snapchat, it is quite surprising to know the data collected by Snapchat. Apple’s App Privacy section lists 9 types of data being collected from you via WeChat mobile app.
Available on: Android, iOS
Telegram
Often quoted as the rival of WhatsApp, Telegram is the 6th most popular messaging platform across the globe. Though it stands at a meagre 400 million monthly active user base against the 2 billion of WhatsApp, Telegram has the biggest potential to challenge or woo the user base moving away from WhatsApp.
With stricter encryption protocols and clean history on any kind of privacy breach allegations, Telegram poses a greater threat to WhatsApp with better group and individual conversation controls. Additionally, Channels, a one-to-many communication medium has a good reception already amongst the business communities.
However, in his recent announcements, Pavel Durov – CEO of Telegram, hinted on monetizing Telegram communications in 2021. Though the changes ahead are unknown at the moment, Telegram’s cloud backed storage and smooth messaging experience would provide a smooth transition for WhatsApp users. Apple’s App Privacy section lists just the 3 fundamental types of data being collected and mapped to you via Telegram mobile app.
Available on: Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Web platform
Signal
With a user base of less than 15 million users, Signal is comparatively the least popular app on this list. However, known for its complete end-to-end encryption (which is now used by WhatsApp), Signal is now riding on the wave for privacy and security. Even one of the co-founder of WhatsApp Messenger, Brian Acton is now a part of Signal Messenger team.
With even your metadata being encrypted, it is impossible for anyone including the government to obtain any of your data to as small as your contact book. Signal is considered to be the Gold standard of secure messaging and maybe that’s why Elon Musk too went vocal for it on his Twitter page.
Apple’s App Privacy section lists literally no type of data being collected or mapped via Signal mobile app.
Available on: Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux
Implications and inferences from the Apple’s App Privacy section clearly calls out Signal as the most secure and private messaging platform available at the moment. With almost no data or metadata being mapped to you, Signal Messenger is the answer to a long-debated subject online.
Hope you guys make your choice soon!
