Facebook to integrate Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp – Raising Privacy and Anti-Trust Concerns
Many are concerned that this move may not improve the privacy concerns on Facebook Messenger and Instagram side as much as it may weaken the end-to-end encryption on Whatsapp. Many Whatsapp users do not use Facebook and want nothing to do with it. Will this interoperability not share information back to Facebook?
While E2E is a valuable security measure for users, it has the side effect of preventing Facebook from scanning messages as part of its advertising business. The technology has also come under attack from law enforcement organisations, since it hinders their ability to intercept suspect communications in real time.
On the anti-trust side, there is also a concern that this move may prevent the spin-off of Instagram and Whatsapp.
Matthew Green, a cryptography professor at Johns Hopkins University, said the change “could potentially be good or bad for security/privacy”. He added: “But given recent history and financial motivations of Facebook, I wouldn’t bet my lunch money on ‘good’.
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Facebook to integrate Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp | Technology | The Guardian |