WhatsApp: Difference between revisions
→Incidents: Ownership violations - WhatsApp is full of them. Disguised ramsomware and moral arbitration included. |
→Data lock-in: improved wording |
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===Data lock-in=== | ===Data lock-in=== | ||
[[File:WhatsApp suspended account hostage screen.png|thumb|upright|WhatsApp suspended account hostage screen]] | [[File:WhatsApp suspended account hostage screen.png|thumb|upright|WhatsApp suspended account hostage screen]] | ||
There are several instances of [[data lock-in]] in WhatsApp. For example, if WhatsApp staff suspends an account, WhatsApp holds the message history hostage. The user is unable to access any messages stored on their device, unless they successfully appeal their suspension. This means WhatsApp staff has more control over some data stored on devices of WhatsApp users than the device owners themselves. This is | There are several instances of [[data lock-in]] in WhatsApp. For example, if WhatsApp staff suspends an account, WhatsApp holds the message history hostage. The user is unable to access any messages stored on their device, unless they successfully appeal their suspension. This means WhatsApp staff has more control over some data stored on devices of WhatsApp users than the device owners themselves. This is as close as it gets to ramsomware without officially being labelled as such.<ref>[https://archive.today/2026.02.11-152443/https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-this-account-is-not-allowed-to-use-whatsapp-error-fix/ How to fix the WhatsApp 'This account is not allowed to use WhatsApp' error]</ref><ref>[https://retainiq.io/blog/how-to-unban-from-whatsapp-quickly/ How to Unban From WhatsApp Quickly and Regain Access (2024)]</ref> | ||
Users also lose access to their messaging history unless they run a recent version. The developers behind WhatsApp could have provided users read-only access, meaning letting users read existing messages but not send new messages unless they update, but they chose to completely disable access to the messages until an update is completed. | Users also lose access to their messaging history unless they run a recent version. The developers behind WhatsApp could have provided users read-only access, meaning letting users read existing messages but not send new messages unless they update, but they chose to completely disable access to the messages until an update is completed. | ||