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I hate Facebook and WhatsApp as much as anyone else who cares about privacy. But there's nothing wrong in this particular change. It happens when you report so

I hate Facebook and WhatsApp as much as anyone else who cares about privacy. But there's nothing wrong in this particular change. It happens when you report someone as spam, and you get a clear notification about what's going on. There's a "cancel" button as big as the "report" button, so you can bail out if you disagree.

ffpip 6y ago
There is nothing wrong with it. I'm posting it because it's a new thing in Whatsapp, the worlds most popular messenger, and I wanted people to know of this change.
- selykg 6y ago
  Your wording choice for the title makes it seem otherwise. It makes it sound like it's some big warning or big deal. Perhaps choose your words more carefully?
  - ffpip 6y ago
    Please suggest a better title. I'll try to improve. Many users have complained. There is a 80 character limit. Btw I meant it as a warning. Your messages may be uploaded when you report a user
    - stronglikedan 6y ago
      The title is fine. You can't stop people from inferring things (they did), yet insisting you implied anything (you didn't).
    - surround 6y ago
      (Edit, for context: the original submission title was “WhatsApp can now read your recent messages when you report a user”) By selecting a specific part of the article to highlight in the title, you introduce your own bias before people even begin reading. Stick to the Submissions Guidelines [1], and use the original title. “WhatsApp beta for Android 2.20.206.3” [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html > Please use the original title, unless it is misleading or linkbait; don't editorialize
      - ffpip 6y ago
        > “WhatsApp beta for Android 2.20.206.3” Sorry but there is zero information in that title. I'm not going to use that. The intention of my post is to make more people aware of this new 'feature'. If some other user had posted this article with that title, I wouldn't have clicked it and I wouldn't have know of this new change.
        surround 6y ago
        > I wouldn't have clicked it That’s exactly the point. The current title is clickbait. If you think the original title is boring, it’s because this is a boring piece of news. I wouldn’t be worried about “warning” people, since WhatsApp already warns people when they click the report button: > Most recent messages from this user will be forwarded to WhatsApp
        ffpip 6y ago
        > The current title is clickbait Can you state anything factually wrong with the title? Wikipedia states clickbait as misleading. Now that I think of it, I should have used 'will' instead of 'can'. You don't have any choice, which 'can' might imply. But that would be even more clickbaity based on your assessment >I wouldn’t be worried about “warning” people Okay. I wanted to warn people even before they get this update, so I posted it.
        surround 6y ago
        There is nothing factually wrong with the current title. Nonetheless, it is misleading. Recent news surrounding WhatsApp has people worried that they’re going to start breaking encryption and violating people’s privacy. When I first read the title, I thought that WhatsApp was sending a copy of your messages when you report someone without telling you. I’m certain it wasn’t your intent to convey this meaning, but based upon other people’s reactions to the title, I don’t think I’m the only one who read it this way.
        hannasanarion 6y ago
mtgx 6y ago
It's amazing to me how people don't see the implications of this. Well first of all, WhatsApp is officially going back on the E2EE guarantees of people's communications being read only by the sender and recipient. There was actually another instance of them doing something like this "when you would switch your SIM card" - TheGuardian called it a backdoor, which it was, but most people online dismissed that. In the end what it means is that Facebook is continuing to find excuses for looking into your "E2EE data". First it's switching SIM cards, then it's reporting abuse, then it's.....law enforcement needing access for X....and then they might as well scrap the entire idea, because the "exception" to reading E2EE data becomes the rule.
that_guy_iain 6y ago
Also, I think this is kind of needed. For example, if you report a user for sending a dick pic it's kind of important if they were sexting or not.
- mola 6y ago
  What can't you just block him? Why is the a report option at all? These are direct messages, why are they treating it like a public platform?
  - that_guy_iain 6y ago
    It is a public platform. You don't need to be invited to send someone a message.
    - ffpip 6y ago
      They need your phone number.
      - that_guy_iain 6y ago
        Yea and I can just fire in random numbers and spam people freely. Not only that, I can just create new numbers and harrass with ease.
    - mola 6y ago
      Then block them. When is reporting necessary? When someone calls your mobile and harasses you, you block their number. If it's criminal harassment that won't end, you call the police. Who needs reporting for directessages, this is just odd.
      - that_guy_iain 6y ago
        If some dirty peadophile is sending kiddie porn, I personally think it would be a good thing if WhatsApp stopped allowing them to use their service. > If it's criminal harassment that won't end, you call the police. This is funny because you clearly haven't realised the police normally won't do anything. Reporting is necessary if it's spam, harrassment, child porn, etc. I feel like you're out of touch with the use cases of WhatsApp.

ffpip 6y ago

There is nothing wrong with it. I'm posting it because it's a new thing in Whatsapp, the worlds most popular messenger, and I wanted people to know of this change.

selykg 6y ago
Your wording choice for the title makes it seem otherwise. It makes it sound like it's some big warning or big deal. Perhaps choose your words more carefully?
- ffpip 6y ago
  Please suggest a better title. I'll try to improve. Many users have complained. There is a 80 character limit. Btw I meant it as a warning. Your messages may be uploaded when you report a user
  - stronglikedan 6y ago
    The title is fine. You can't stop people from inferring things (they did), yet insisting you implied anything (you didn't).
  - surround 6y ago
    (Edit, for context: the original submission title was “WhatsApp can now read your recent messages when you report a user”) By selecting a specific part of the article to highlight in the title, you introduce your own bias before people even begin reading. Stick to the Submissions Guidelines [1], and use the original title. “WhatsApp beta for Android 2.20.206.3” [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html > Please use the original title, unless it is misleading or linkbait; don't editorialize
    - ffpip 6y ago
      > “WhatsApp beta for Android 2.20.206.3” Sorry but there is zero information in that title. I'm not going to use that. The intention of my post is to make more people aware of this new 'feature'. If some other user had posted this article with that title, I wouldn't have clicked it and I wouldn't have know of this new change.
      - surround 6y ago
        > I wouldn't have clicked it That’s exactly the point. The current title is clickbait. If you think the original title is boring, it’s because this is a boring piece of news. I wouldn’t be worried about “warning” people, since WhatsApp already warns people when they click the report button: > Most recent messages from this user will be forwarded to WhatsApp
        ffpip 6y ago
        > The current title is clickbait Can you state anything factually wrong with the title? Wikipedia states clickbait as misleading. Now that I think of it, I should have used 'will' instead of 'can'. You don't have any choice, which 'can' might imply. But that would be even more clickbaity based on your assessment >I wouldn’t be worried about “warning” people Okay. I wanted to warn people even before they get this update, so I posted it.
        surround 6y ago
        There is nothing factually wrong with the current title. Nonetheless, it is misleading. Recent news surrounding WhatsApp has people worried that they’re going to start breaking encryption and violating people’s privacy. When I first read the title, I thought that WhatsApp was sending a copy of your messages when you report someone without telling you. I’m certain it wasn’t your intent to convey this meaning, but based upon other people’s reactions to the title, I don’t think I’m the only one who read it this way.
        hannasanarion 6y ago

mtgx 6y ago

It's amazing to me how people don't see the implications of this. Well first of all, WhatsApp is officially going back on the E2EE guarantees of people's communications being read only by the sender and recipient. There was actually another instance of them doing something like this "when you would switch your SIM card" - TheGuardian called it a backdoor, which it was, but most people online dismissed that. In the end what it means is that Facebook is continuing to find excuses for looking into your "E2EE data". First it's switching SIM cards, then it's reporting abuse, then it's.....law enforcement needing access for X....and then they might as well scrap the entire idea, because the "exception" to reading E2EE data becomes the rule.

that_guy_iain 6y ago

Also, I think this is kind of needed. For example, if you report a user for sending a dick pic it's kind of important if they were sexting or not.

mola 6y ago
What can't you just block him? Why is the a report option at all? These are direct messages, why are they treating it like a public platform?
- that_guy_iain 6y ago
  It is a public platform. You don't need to be invited to send someone a message.
  - ffpip 6y ago
    They need your phone number.
    - that_guy_iain 6y ago
      Yea and I can just fire in random numbers and spam people freely. Not only that, I can just create new numbers and harrass with ease.
  - mola 6y ago
    Then block them. When is reporting necessary? When someone calls your mobile and harasses you, you block their number. If it's criminal harassment that won't end, you call the police. Who needs reporting for directessages, this is just odd.
    - that_guy_iain 6y ago
      If some dirty peadophile is sending kiddie porn, I personally think it would be a good thing if WhatsApp stopped allowing them to use their service. > If it's criminal harassment that won't end, you call the police. This is funny because you clearly haven't realised the police normally won't do anything. Reporting is necessary if it's spam, harrassment, child porn, etc. I feel like you're out of touch with the use cases of WhatsApp.