Privacy Fears Drive Millions to Abandon WhatsApp for Signal and Telegram
Users flock to privacy-focused apps Signal and Telegram as WhatsApp forces an updated data-sharing policy. The sudden shift highlights growing consumer concern over how major tech companies handle personal information.
Millions of users flock to alternative messaging apps Signal and Telegram as WhatsApp prepares to implement a controversial update to its privacy policy. Downloads of Signal skyrocket to 7.5 million globally in just a few days, marking a 43-fold increase from the previous week. Telegram also experiences a massive surge with 5.6 million new installs over the same period.
This sudden migration stems from a January 4 policy update that requires users to accept new terms by February 8 to continue using WhatsApp. While WhatsApp insists that private messages remain encrypted, the updated terms remove the previous option to opt out of sharing metadata with its parent company, Facebook. This shared data includes phone numbers, device information, and user interaction with businesses.
WhatsApp maintains that the update only affects optional business messaging and does not compromise the privacy of personal conversations. However, public figures like Elon Musk actively endorse Signal as a safer alternative, fueling the rapid adoption of apps that prioritize strict end-to-end encryption and minimal data collection.