6 ms·

I uninstalled WhatsApp the moment it was bought by facebook. It's so obvious that facebook corrupts this fantastic company/chat application.

by Kenji 10y ago

luastoned 10y ago
How did Facebook corrupt WhatsApp? Pre-Facebook there was no end-to-end encryption, etc..
- sangnoir 10y ago
  > How did Facebook corrupt WhatsApp? Previously WhatsApp had subscriptions ($1/yr) and were proudly ad-free. Facebook scrapped subscriptions and is about to add Ads. WhatsApp also never shared your number with anyone; sharing your number with advertisers is undoubtedly corrupting WhatsApp.
  - 8ytecoder 10y ago
    Yeah, I actually paid for the 3 year subscription. Now I can't even see the option. It was a big differentiator in my opinion. Their logic was sound too - even at $1 a user they could make a $1bn a year. (Even in developing countries - because of the networking effect - people would have paid that modest fee.)
- ffggvv 10y ago
  Did you see the source code of WhatsApp? Do you know somebody that saw it? They can tell all they want, but I won't trust them until I (or someone I trust, e.g. Debian, FSF, etc.) see the code. Also being end to end encrypted does not block whatsapp from censoring you or your friends/family! See how they "disabled" links to telegram https://orat.io/blog/as-of-today-whatsapp-is-blocking-telegram-links/ https://orat.io/blog/as-of-today-whatsapp-is-blocking-telegr... and removed the telegram page from facebook.
  - fiatjaf 10y ago
    It seems the end-to-end encryption was done by OpenWhisperSystems.
    - ffggvv 10y ago
      And so? 1. They still censorship telegram which means they can read messages locally. With new updates whatsapp could have new rules to censor or modify "dangerous" (to them) messages. 2. E2E encryption is implemented now, what about the future?
      - fiatjaf 10y ago
        Ok, I'm not defending them. I will uninstall this damn app.
- denzil_correa 10y ago
  Earlier, anyone could get access to messages if they wanted to. Now, ONLY Facebook can access data.
ffggvv 10y ago
Thanks for doing it. If the whole community of hacker news decided to avoid shady companies like facebook we would probably be all better by now. As technology enthusiasts, I think we have a lot of influence on our relatives/friends. To all reading, please consider deleting your account from shady companies. Handy links http://justdelete.me/ http://justdelete.me/
- dx034 10y ago
  Why is Facebook shady? They provide a free service and get paid by using your info to target ads. Of course they haven't been perfect, but it's hard/impossible to run a company of that size without ever doing sth controversial.
  - ffggvv 10y ago
    https://stallman.org/facebook.html https://stallman.org/facebook.html
    - dx034 10y ago
      Most of that are valid business decisions. Just because you disagree doesn't mean that FB is shady. You're free not to use their service. Political censorship is often mentioned in these discussions, and it's exactly what I meant with controversial. I don't think there's a way to satisfy everyone. Telegram doesn't censor and they're known to be the favourite tool for many terrorists to communicate, which is something that would probably upset more FB users than censoring critical posts. The tax policy could be different, but Facebook is no other than most American companies. Other services will only have different policies if they are either not based in the U.S. or don't make enough money abroad to justify these constructs. It's the job of the Government to introduce more sensible tax laws, not using Facebook won't change anything.
    - overcast 10y ago
      What's the issue with using your "real name"? Honestly I think that should be the policy more places, so people aren't hiding behind their online personas.

I uninstalled WhatsApp the moment it was bought by facebook. It's so obvious that facebook corrupts this fantastic company/chat application.

by Kenji 10y ago

I uninstalled WhatsApp the moment it was bought by facebook. It's so obvious that facebook corrupts this fantastic company/chat application.

luastoned 10y ago

How did Facebook corrupt WhatsApp? Pre-Facebook there was no end-to-end encryption, etc..

sangnoir 10y ago
> How did Facebook corrupt WhatsApp? Previously WhatsApp had subscriptions ($1/yr) and were proudly ad-free. Facebook scrapped subscriptions and is about to add Ads. WhatsApp also never shared your number with anyone; sharing your number with advertisers is undoubtedly corrupting WhatsApp.
- 8ytecoder 10y ago
  Yeah, I actually paid for the 3 year subscription. Now I can't even see the option. It was a big differentiator in my opinion. Their logic was sound too - even at $1 a user they could make a $1bn a year. (Even in developing countries - because of the networking effect - people would have paid that modest fee.)
ffggvv 10y ago
Did you see the source code of WhatsApp? Do you know somebody that saw it? They can tell all they want, but I won't trust them until I (or someone I trust, e.g. Debian, FSF, etc.) see the code. Also being end to end encrypted does not block whatsapp from censoring you or your friends/family! See how they "disabled" links to telegram https://orat.io/blog/as-of-today-whatsapp-is-blocking-telegram-links/ https://orat.io/blog/as-of-today-whatsapp-is-blocking-telegr... and removed the telegram page from facebook.
- fiatjaf 10y ago
  It seems the end-to-end encryption was done by OpenWhisperSystems.
  - ffggvv 10y ago
    And so? 1. They still censorship telegram which means they can read messages locally. With new updates whatsapp could have new rules to censor or modify "dangerous" (to them) messages. 2. E2E encryption is implemented now, what about the future?
    - fiatjaf 10y ago
      Ok, I'm not defending them. I will uninstall this damn app.
denzil_correa 10y ago
Earlier, anyone could get access to messages if they wanted to. Now, ONLY Facebook can access data.

ffggvv 10y ago

Thanks for doing it. If the whole community of hacker news decided to avoid shady companies like facebook we would probably be all better by now. As technology enthusiasts, I think we have a lot of influence on our relatives/friends. To all reading, please consider deleting your account from shady companies. Handy links http://justdelete.me/ http://justdelete.me/

dx034 10y ago
Why is Facebook shady? They provide a free service and get paid by using your info to target ads. Of course they haven't been perfect, but it's hard/impossible to run a company of that size without ever doing sth controversial.
- ffggvv 10y ago
  https://stallman.org/facebook.html https://stallman.org/facebook.html
  - dx034 10y ago
    Most of that are valid business decisions. Just because you disagree doesn't mean that FB is shady. You're free not to use their service. Political censorship is often mentioned in these discussions, and it's exactly what I meant with controversial. I don't think there's a way to satisfy everyone. Telegram doesn't censor and they're known to be the favourite tool for many terrorists to communicate, which is something that would probably upset more FB users than censoring critical posts. The tax policy could be different, but Facebook is no other than most American companies. Other services will only have different policies if they are either not based in the U.S. or don't make enough money abroad to justify these constructs. It's the job of the Government to introduce more sensible tax laws, not using Facebook won't change anything.
  - overcast 10y ago
    What's the issue with using your "real name"? Honestly I think that should be the policy more places, so people aren't hiding behind their online personas.