The founders of WhatsApp never meant for it to be this way.
When Brian Acton and Jan Koum launched the messaging app 11 years ago, Acton’s motto was: “No ads, no games, no gimmicks." He wanted their aims to be transparent and the needs of users to be put first. Koum, who grew up in the Eastern Bloc in the 1980s, had a very personal commitment to making his app private and secure.
Today, however, Acton and Koum are long gone, and WhatsApp is engulfed in another row over privacy. Changes to the app's terms of service, which state that information gathered by WhatsApp will be shared with Facebook, have caused consternation and confusion. The truth about which data stays private and which doesn't is either buried in pages of legalese, or being revealed in short emailed statements to enquiring journalists. People don't know where they stand, and many are bailing out.
It was evident when Facebook bought WhatsApp for $19 billion in 2014 that it would make for an uneasy partnership. Shortly after the purchase, WhatsApp rolled out advanced end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only you and the recipient could see messages, and they’d be invisible to the companies themselves.
This would, on the face of it, be an anathema to Facebook, whose business model is predicated upon using its knowledge of your habits to serve you things you want to see (at least in theory).
But today, WhatsApp messages are still secure; end-to-end encryption still exists and your communications can’t be read by a third party. It does, however, reserve the right to collect other information, such as when and how you use the service, your location, contacts, transaction and payment data. And that’s the information which is making its way back to Facebook.
"WhatsApp is great for protecting the privacy of your message content," said cryptographer Matthew Green in interview with technology magazine Wired. "But it feels like the privacy of everything else you do is up for grabs."
In truth, WhatsApp has been sharing this information with Facebook for years unless you explicitly opted out. These new terms of service just shine a spotlight on it.
WhatsApp has now clarified that the opt-out will stay in place for those who chose it and nothing fundamental will change for anyone else, either. The new terms of service, they say, merely allow businesses you chat to on WhatsApp to use Facebook infrastructure to store those conversations, rather than have to store them themselves. What this means in practice isn’t yet clear; what is evident is that the privacy-conscious are actively exploring other options.
Here are five of them.
Signal
"Use Signal," tweeted entrepreneur Elon Musk on Thursday as WhatsApp's new terms of service were unveiled. This exhortation caused a surge of people to join the platform and temporarily caused its sign-up process to become overloaded.
Signal is an obvious alternative: it’s open source, funded by grants and donations, run by a foundation rather than a tech giant, and has long been used and admired by privacy activists. All your messages (and even stickers!) are end-to-end encrypted, and the only information the company has about you is your phone number. It can’t share any data with anyone, because it has nothing to share.
Telegram
With a centre of operations based in Dubai, Telegram already has somewhere approaching half a billion users, attracted by its visual similarity to WhatsApp, the ability to transfer large files, and its “Secret Chat” mode, which uses its own high-grade encryption system.
However, outside Secret Chat, there is no end-to-end encryption, and the app “may” (according to its terms of service) collect similar metadata to the kind collected by WhatsApp.
Just before Christmas, founder Pavel Durov indicated that he is planning to start monetising the app. What shape this takes, and whether it will involve a form of advertising, isn’t yet known.
Threema
As the saying goes, “if a service is free, then you are the product”. Threema gets around the tricky problem of monetisation by charging for its app.
Popular in Germany, Austria and Switzerland for many years, it features the usual end-to-end encryption, but also allows you to create an account without providing an email address or phone number, making your usage of the service completely anonymous.
However, its user base outside Europe is relatively small, so you'll have to persuade friends to sign up for it to be useful.
Element
Formerly called Riot, and before that Vector, Element’s interface may not be as slick and user-friendly as those of its competitors, but it makes use of the Matrix protocol, which boasts of being “open source, decentralised and secure".
What that means, in practice, is that all messages can be sent using end-to-end encryption but also, thanks to “bridges” provided by the Matrix community, you can send messages to users of other services, eg iMessage, Facebook Messenger, Skype and WhatsApp itself.
Wickr Me
One of two messenger apps authorised for use by the US military (the other being Signal), Wickr Me is the younger brother of Wickr, an app directed at security-conscious businesses.
Again, you don’t need a phone number or email address to sign up, messages are end-to-end encrypted, and all content is ephemeral, ie sent messages and attachments self-destruct after a set period of time, whether received or not.
This could be problematic if the recipient doesn’t read the message before it disappears, but it is reassuringly private.
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
SQUADS
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt), Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Asghar, Bilal Asif, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Wahab Riaz
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne (vice-capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Rangana Herath, Lakshan Sandakan, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Gamage
Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG) and Nigel Llong (ENG)
TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
ICC match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)
A Cat, A Man, and Two Women
Junichiro Tamizaki
Translated by Paul McCarthy
Daunt Books
QUALIFYING RESULTS
1. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1 minute, 35.246 seconds.
2. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Mercedes, 1:35.271.
3. Lewis Hamilton, Great Britain, Mercedes, 1:35.332.
4. Lando Norris, Great Britain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.497.
5. Alexander Albon, Thailand, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1:35.571.
6. Carlos Sainz Jr, Spain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.815.
7. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:35.963.
8. Lance Stroll, Canada, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 1:36.046.
9. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 1:36.065.
10. Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:36.242.
Eliminated after second session
11. Esteban Ocon, France, Renault, 1:36.359.
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 1:36.406.
13. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:36.631.
14. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:38.248.
Eliminated after first session
15. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.075.
16. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.555.
17. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas Ferrari, 1:37.863.
18. George Russell, Great Britain, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.045.
19. Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil, Haas Ferrari, 1:38.173.
20. Nicholas Latifi, Canada, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.443.
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202020%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Khaldoon%20Bushnaq%20and%20Tariq%20Seksek%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Global%20Market%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20100%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20to%20date%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2415%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Power: 640hp at 8,000rpm
Torque: 565Nm at 6,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: From Dh1 million
On sale: Q3 or Q4 2022
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
The specs: 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn
Price, base / as tested: Dhxxx
Engine: 5.7L V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 556Nm @ 3,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
About RuPay
A homegrown card payment scheme launched by the National Payments Corporation of India and backed by the Reserve Bank of India, the country’s central bank
RuPay process payments between banks and merchants for purchases made with credit or debit cards
It has grown rapidly in India and competes with global payment network firms like MasterCard and Visa.
In India, it can be used at ATMs, for online payments and variations of the card can be used to pay for bus, metro charges, road toll payments
The name blends two words rupee and payment
Some advantages of the network include lower processing fees and transaction costs
