Wave of new 'Signal' signups as Elon Musk asks followers to switch from WhatsApp

WhatsApp, encrypted messaging app that sells itself as a privacy-focused service is changing its terms of service and forcing users to share personal data with Facebook, its parent company. On Wednesday, Whatsapp in an anuncement said that its users have to agree to let Facebook and its subsidiaries to collect WhatsApp data including users' phone numbers, contacts' phone numbers, locations, and more. By February 8, if users do t agree y will lose access.

This move evoked users to switch to smaller encrypted messaging apps such as Signal and Telegram and delete ir WhatsApp accounts.

READ | WhatsApp Privacy Policy Changed After New Update; What's New?

Tesla Inc. and X CEO Elon Musk recommended users to switch services, tweeting 'Use Signal'.

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After Musk tweet, encrypted messaging app Signal received wave of new users and  flooding sign-ups delayed sending out verification codes that are needed to activate new user accounts. 

On Wednesday, Musk seemed to have criticized Facebook as bearing responsibility for rioters who attacked US Capitol, via meme. 

A WhatsApp spokeswoman reportedly said that change was to allow businesses to store WhatsApp chats by basically using Facebook's broader infrastructure. However, he didn't explain why platform decided to make changes. 

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Mike Butcher also tweeted and said as Whatsapp will share it's users personal information, only way out is to leave service and switch to Signal or Telegram.

Elon Musk- World's Richest Person

Elon Musk has overtaken Amazon’s Jeff Bezos to become world’s richest person, according to Bloomberg. A 6% rise in Tesla shares on January 7 lifted value of Musk’s stock holdings and options by $10 billion, taking his net worth to about $191 billion. A more modest rise of less than 2 per cent lifted Bezos’ Amazon shares by about $3 billion, putting his net worth at approximately $187 billion. 

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WhatsApp new policy explained

“WhatsApp is updating its terms and privacy policy,” reads tification that popped up on app. changes will come into effect from February 8, 2021, onwards. It is also important to kw that WhatsApp new policy tification was sent to both Android and iOS users. As you may have read tification, key updates were quite ticeable. updated WhatsApp Privacy Policy mentions processing of user data, how businesses can use Facebook hosted services to store and man ir WhatsApp chats, and how company partners with Facebook. If you did t choose to agree to WhatsApp new policy, you will longer be able to use ir services from Feb 8.