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If Iran is blocking Signal but not other apps, namely Whatsapp, does this mean Iran has access to Whatsapp data? I fully expect the US govt to have access to f

by djl0 6y ago

If Iran is blocking Signal but not other apps, namely Whatsapp, does this mean Iran has access to Whatsapp data? I fully expect the US govt to have access to fb/whatsapp data (at least the metadata), but it's a bit surprising to me that Iran would too.

danenania 6y ago
I think FB’s policy is to comply with local laws regardless of ethical concerns?
- benlivengood 6y ago
  There are a few requests reported: https://transparency.facebook.com/government-data-requests/country/IR https://transparency.facebook.com/government-data-requests/c...
  - mzs 6y ago
    which you can't read without a FB account! In any case 6 users/accounts in fist half of 2020
- xirbeosbwo1234 6y ago
  I think FB's policy is to _____(verb)_____ regardless of ethical concerns. They certainly aren't complying with U.S. antitrust laws. They comply if it makes them money and don't comply if it doesn't make them money.
ParanoidShroom 6y ago
I doubt it. By the same reasoning they would also have access to iMessage and other apps that aren't banned. Not sure what WhatsApp or fb has to do with this.
- 2cb 6y ago
  Considering Apple put all data of Chinese users on Chinese servers to keep the CCP happy I have no doubt they’re perfectly happy and willing to comply with government requests elsewhere too.
beermonster 6y ago
Well... https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/18/world/middleeast/iran-hacking-encryption.html https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/18/world/middleeast/iran-hac...
twhb 6y ago
Iran blocks every major foreign messaging app, except WhatsApp. Signal escaped it until now only because they had so few users. Also keep in mind that while WhatsApp claims to use the Signal protocol, they installed a backdoor that allows them to MITM conversations. So yes, I’d say it’s virtually guaranteed that WhatsApp is sending unencrypted message data to Iran, and of course to the US too.
- oarsinsync 6y ago
  > [WhatsApp] installed a backdoor that allows them to MITM conversations Citation?
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- kolmogorov 6y ago
  https://signal.org/blog/there-is-no-whatsapp-backdoor/ https://signal.org/blog/there-is-no-whatsapp-backdoor/
  - twhb 6y ago
    HN discussion of that post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13394900 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13394900 I guess I'm coming down hard on one side of a controversial question, but in my mind, if it allows the server to intercept messages without users knowing about it under the default configuration, it's a backdoor.
  - egberts 6y ago
    “There’s no backdoor.” — Perhaps the door is cracked (or ajar) and a microphone is listening in ... still?

by djl0 6y ago

danenania 6y ago

I think FB’s policy is to comply with local laws regardless of ethical concerns?

benlivengood 6y ago
There are a few requests reported: https://transparency.facebook.com/government-data-requests/country/IR https://transparency.facebook.com/government-data-requests/c...
- mzs 6y ago
  which you can't read without a FB account! In any case 6 users/accounts in fist half of 2020
xirbeosbwo1234 6y ago
I think FB's policy is to _____(verb)_____ regardless of ethical concerns. They certainly aren't complying with U.S. antitrust laws. They comply if it makes them money and don't comply if it doesn't make them money.

ParanoidShroom 6y ago

I doubt it. By the same reasoning they would also have access to iMessage and other apps that aren't banned. Not sure what WhatsApp or fb has to do with this.

2cb 6y ago
Considering Apple put all data of Chinese users on Chinese servers to keep the CCP happy I have no doubt they’re perfectly happy and willing to comply with government requests elsewhere too.

beermonster 6y ago

Well... https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/18/world/middleeast/iran-hacking-encryption.html https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/18/world/middleeast/iran-hac...

twhb 6y ago

Iran blocks every major foreign messaging app, except WhatsApp. Signal escaped it until now only because they had so few users. Also keep in mind that while WhatsApp claims to use the Signal protocol, they installed a backdoor that allows them to MITM conversations. So yes, I’d say it’s virtually guaranteed that WhatsApp is sending unencrypted message data to Iran, and of course to the US too.

oarsinsync 6y ago
> [WhatsApp] installed a backdoor that allows them to MITM conversations Citation?
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
kolmogorov 6y ago
https://signal.org/blog/there-is-no-whatsapp-backdoor/ https://signal.org/blog/there-is-no-whatsapp-backdoor/
- twhb 6y ago
  HN discussion of that post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13394900 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13394900 I guess I'm coming down hard on one side of a controversial question, but in my mind, if it allows the server to intercept messages without users knowing about it under the default configuration, it's a backdoor.
- egberts 6y ago
  “There’s no backdoor.” — Perhaps the door is cracked (or ajar) and a microphone is listening in ... still?