Elon Musk has taken aim at Meta Platforms, claiming WhatsApp is insecure and promoting X Chat as a safer alternative. The remarks coincide with a lawsuit filed against Meta over alleged breaches of users’ privacy.
Musk, CEO of X (formerly Twitter), tweeted that “WhatsApp is not secure. Even Signal is questionable. Use X Chat.” His comments add fuel to growing concerns about privacy on messaging platforms.
The criticism comes after whistle-blowers alleged that Meta can access WhatsApp users’ private messages despite the app’s claim of end-to-end encryption.
According to Bloomberg, an international group of plaintiffs has filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms, accusing the company of making false claims about WhatsApp’s security.
The plaintiffs claim that Meta and WhatsApp “store, analyze, and can access virtually all of WhatsApp users’ purportedly private communications.” This legal action highlights the ongoing scrutiny of how tech giants handle sensitive user data.
Meta responds to allegations
A Meta spokesperson, Andy Stone, rejected the claims, calling the lawsuit “frivolous” and “a work of fiction.”
“Any claim that people’s WhatsApp messages are not encrypted is categorically false and absurd,” Stone said. He emphasized that WhatsApp has employed end-to-end encryption using the Signal protocol for over a decade.
Meta also announced it plans to pursue sanctions against the plaintiffs’ counsel, signaling a firm stance against the allegations.
Privacy debate in tech industry
The dispute underscores ongoing tensions in the tech sector over user privacy. Messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, and X Chat are increasingly scrutinized as consumers and regulators demand more transparency about data security.
Musk’s public call for users to switch to X Chat highlights the competitive battle over privacy-conscious messaging services.
