WhatsApp - Revision history

Rudxain: Zulip mention!

2026-05-30T04:10:42Z

Zulip mention!

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:10, 30 May 2026
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	*[[Telegram]] is the most popular alternative and is end-user-friendly, with minimal content moderation. Before a September 2024 policy change, it refused to hand over user data to law enforcement upon request.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Jamali \|first=Lily \|title=Telegram will now provide some user data to authorities \|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvglp0xny3eo \|website=BBC \|date=23 Sep 2024 \|access-date=22 Jul 2025 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923225048/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvglp0xny3eo \|archive-date=23 Sep 2024}}</ref>		*[[Telegram]] is the most popular alternative and is end-user-friendly, with minimal content moderation. Before a September 2024 policy change, it refused to hand over user data to law enforcement upon request.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Jamali \|first=Lily \|title=Telegram will now provide some user data to authorities \|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvglp0xny3eo \|website=BBC \|date=23 Sep 2024 \|access-date=22 Jul 2025 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923225048/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvglp0xny3eo \|archive-date=23 Sep 2024}}</ref>
			*[[wikipedia:Zulip\|Zulip]] is what the CRW uses as alt to [[Discord]].

	==References==		==References==

Rudxain: prefer wiki-links for alts

2026-05-30T04:05:02Z

prefer wiki-links for alts

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:05, 30 May 2026
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	==Alternatives==		==Alternatives==
	*[~~https://www.signal.org~~ Signal] offers most of the same features~~, and while [[Signal data collection\|not without some issues]]~~, the app is open source, relies on Privacy by Design, and is operated by a non-profit.		*[[Signal]] offers most of the same features, the app is open source, relies on Privacy by Design, and is operated by a non-profit.

	*[~~https~~:~~//matrix.org/~~ Matrix] is more private and uses a federated design, but setup is slightly more involved than that of a commercial messenger.		*[[wikipedia:Matrix_(protocol)\|Matrix]] is more private and uses a federated design, but setup is slightly more involved than that of a commercial messenger.

	*[~~https://telegram.org/~~ Telegram] is the most popular alternative and is end-user-friendly, with minimal content moderation. Before a September 2024 policy change, it refused to hand over user data to law enforcement upon request.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Jamali \|first=Lily \|title=Telegram will now provide some user data to authorities \|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvglp0xny3eo \|website=BBC \|date=23 Sep 2024 \|access-date=22 Jul 2025 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923225048/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvglp0xny3eo \|archive-date=23 Sep 2024}}</ref>		*[[Telegram]] is the most popular alternative and is end-user-friendly, with minimal content moderation. Before a September 2024 policy change, it refused to hand over user data to law enforcement upon request.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Jamali \|first=Lily \|title=Telegram will now provide some user data to authorities \|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvglp0xny3eo \|website=BBC \|date=23 Sep 2024 \|access-date=22 Jul 2025 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923225048/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvglp0xny3eo \|archive-date=23 Sep 2024}}</ref>

	==References==		==References==

Beanie Bo at 12:52, 19 May 2026

2026-05-19T12:52:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:52, 19 May 2026
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	==Consumer impact summary==		==Consumer impact summary==
	~~{{Ph-C-CIS}}~~
	'''User privacy:''' Collects and shares metadata, while competing apps intentionally collect less to avoid incursions on their users' privacy.<ref>{{Cite web \|last1=Elkind \|first1=Peter \|last2=Gillum \|first2=Jack \|last3=Silverman \|first3=Craig \|title=How Facebook Undermines Privacy Protections for Its 2 Billion WhatsApp Users \|url=https://www.propublica.org/article/how-facebook-undermines-privacy-protections-for-its-2-billion-whatsapp-users \|website=ProPublica \|date=7 Sep 2021 \|access-date=6 Mar 2025 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907090516/https://www.propublica.org/article/how-facebook-undermines-privacy-protections-for-its-2-billion-whatsapp-users \|archive-date=7 Sep 2021}}</ref>		'''User privacy:''' Collects and shares metadata, while competing apps intentionally collect less to avoid incursions on their users' privacy.<ref>{{Cite web \|last1=Elkind \|first1=Peter \|last2=Gillum \|first2=Jack \|last3=Silverman \|first3=Craig \|title=How Facebook Undermines Privacy Protections for Its 2 Billion WhatsApp Users \|url=https://www.propublica.org/article/how-facebook-undermines-privacy-protections-for-its-2-billion-whatsapp-users \|website=ProPublica \|date=7 Sep 2021 \|access-date=6 Mar 2025 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907090516/https://www.propublica.org/article/how-facebook-undermines-privacy-protections-for-its-2-billion-whatsapp-users \|archive-date=7 Sep 2021}}</ref>

Sojourna: /* References */

2026-05-04T23:29:15Z

References

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:29, 4 May 2026
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	{{Reflist}}		{{Reflist}}

	[[Category:~~WhatsApp messenger~~]]		[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
			[[Category:Meta]]

Sojourna: /* Incidents */

2026-05-04T23:27:20Z

Incidents

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:27, 4 May 2026
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	==Incidents==		==Incidents==
	This is a list of all consumer protection incidents ~~involving~~ this company. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:~~WhatsApp messenger~~\|{{PAGENAME}} category]].		This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}\|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

	===Data lock-in===		===Data lock-in===

ClippyFellow47: Major grammar edits to improve tone.

2026-05-04T14:09:35Z

Major grammar edits to improve tone.

Show changes

Rudxain: /* Mandatory updates */ fix nesting level

2026-04-07T08:45:43Z

Mandatory updates: fix nesting level

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:45, 7 April 2026
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	</blockquote>		</blockquote>

	==Mandatory updates==		===Mandatory updates===
	WhatsApp requires users to use updated versions of the app by first giving them an in-app warning if they have not updated for a while. If the user still chooses not to update, usage of the app will be disabled entirely.{{Citation needed\|reason=How long before this happens? Any screenshots?}} This can pose problems in certain cases, such as being in an area with poor or limited internet connectivity or using an older device that is no longer supported.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Coyle \|first=Dylan R. \|title=WhatsApp drops support for Android KitKat \|url=https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-support-android-kitkat/ \|website=Android Police \|date=24 Oct 2023 \|access-date=17 Feb 2026 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025193121/https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-support-android-kitkat/ \|archive-date=25 Oct 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|author=Ro \|title=WhatsApp to drop support for older Android devices on January 1, 2025 \|url=https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_to_drop_support_for_older_android_devices_on_january_1_2025-news-65834.php \|website=GSMArena \|date=22 Dec 2024 \|access-date=17 Feb 2026 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260217143250/https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_to_drop_support_for_older_android_devices_on_january_1_2025-news-65834.php \|archive-date=17 Feb 2026}}</ref> <!-- In my experience, WhatsApp is one of the few apps to function near-perfectly on 3G, even rural areas. Updates however are usually 60+ MB, very chungus in comparison. I'm not sure how to incorporate this point though. -Raster -->		WhatsApp requires users to use updated versions of the app by first giving them an in-app warning if they have not updated for a while. If the user still chooses not to update, usage of the app will be disabled entirely.{{Citation needed\|reason=How long before this happens? Any screenshots?}} This can pose problems in certain cases, such as being in an area with poor or limited internet connectivity or using an older device that is no longer supported.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Coyle \|first=Dylan R. \|title=WhatsApp drops support for Android KitKat \|url=https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-support-android-kitkat/ \|website=Android Police \|date=24 Oct 2023 \|access-date=17 Feb 2026 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025193121/https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-support-android-kitkat/ \|archive-date=25 Oct 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|author=Ro \|title=WhatsApp to drop support for older Android devices on January 1, 2025 \|url=https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_to_drop_support_for_older_android_devices_on_january_1_2025-news-65834.php \|website=GSMArena \|date=22 Dec 2024 \|access-date=17 Feb 2026 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260217143250/https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_to_drop_support_for_older_android_devices_on_january_1_2025-news-65834.php \|archive-date=17 Feb 2026}}</ref> <!-- In my experience, WhatsApp is one of the few apps to function near-perfectly on 3G, even rural areas. Updates however are usually 60+ MB, very chungus in comparison. I'm not sure how to incorporate this point though. -Raster -->

Rudxain at 08:44, 7 April 2026

2026-04-07T08:44:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:44, 7 April 2026
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	===Disabling screen captures of profile pictures (''2024—'')===		===Disabling screen captures of profile pictures (''2024—'')===
	In March 2024, WhatsApp started disabling screen captures of profile pictures viewed in full screen to "protect the privacy" of its users. This made possible because mainstream mobile operating systems, [[Android]] and [[iOS]], let applications disable screen capturing on devices without the consent ~~of the~~ of device owners.<ref>{{Cite web \|author= \|title=About profile photo screenshot blocking \|url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/1799783917198636 \|website=WhatsApp \|date= \|access-date=17 Feb 2026 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251109165725/https://faq.whatsapp.com/1799783917198636 \|archive-date=9 Nov 2025}}</ref>		In March 2024, WhatsApp started disabling screen captures of profile pictures viewed in full screen to "protect the privacy" of its users. This made possible because mainstream mobile operating systems, [[Android]] and [[iOS]], let applications disable screen capturing on devices without the consent of device owners.<ref>{{Cite web \|author= \|title=About profile photo screenshot blocking \|url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/1799783917198636 \|website=WhatsApp \|date= \|access-date=17 Feb 2026 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251109165725/https://faq.whatsapp.com/1799783917198636 \|archive-date=9 Nov 2025}}</ref>

	Profile pictures are not mandatory to use WhatsApp and are therefore images that a user has voluntarily made accessible on their profiles. As such, profile pictures are not private images.		Profile pictures are not mandatory to use WhatsApp and are therefore images that a user has voluntarily made accessible on their profiles. As such, profile pictures are not private images.

Bananabot: Re-archived 9 citation(s) from archive.today to web.archive.org using CRWCitationBot

2026-02-22T23:34:34Z

Re-archived 9 citation(s) from archive.today to web.archive.org using CRWCitationBot

Show changes

CopyeditorHF: Adding a comment to respond to another comment about a section I recently edited.

2026-02-22T14:42:22Z

Adding a comment to respond to another comment about a section I recently edited.

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:42, 22 February 2026
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	This is a feature included in several other messenger apps (e.g. discord, element). There are examples of users requesting it when it doesn't exist (example on steam https://steamcommunity.com/groups/SteamClientBeta/discussions/3/1694924244564842077/).		This is a feature included in several other messenger apps (e.g. discord, element). There are examples of users requesting it when it doesn't exist (example on steam https://steamcommunity.com/groups/SteamClientBeta/discussions/3/1694924244564842077/).

	In my experience it's mostly used to fix typos and spelling errors - if anything it helps protects the sender's right to privacy. -->		In my experience it's mostly used to fix typos and spelling errors - if anything it helps protects the sender's right to privacy. --><!-- In response to the first comment: I edited this section to make the tone more neutral, but I also question the reasoning behind this being included as an incident. Especially since Telegram is a recommended alternative and has a similar feature. -->

	===Privacy policy update (''2021'')===		===Privacy policy update (''2021'')===