Telegram and Signal record spike in users, WhatsApp clarifies Privacy Policy
Messaging apps Telegram and Signal have recorded a huge surge in downloads of the apps from the iOS and Google app stores following WhatsApp’s privacy policy concerns.
Telegram announced that the messaging app has now surpassed 500 million active users; Signal, in a tweet reported that it crossed 50 million downloads on Google Play Store.
On the other hand, Facebook-owned WhatsApp is seeing its growth decline following a Privacy Policy scandal which has forced the company to clarify the controversies.
WhatsApp tweeted a FAQ from its website which outlines its stances on user privacy in response to widespread backlash over an upcoming privacy policy update. The core issue relates to the messaging app’s data-sharing procedures with Facebook—its parent company which also owns Instagram and Messenger.
On the FAQ page, WhatsApp stated: “We want to be clear that the policy update does not affect the privacy of your messages with friends or family in any way. Instead, this update includes changes related to messaging a business on WhatsApp, which is optional, and provides further transparency about how we collect and use data.”
Facebook’s profound track record on privacy served as a catalyst in fueling the controversy due to its reputation for obfuscating changes to its various terms of service agreement, and has caused users to flee to competitors like Signal and Telegram.
Former Facebook Executive and Current Instagram Head, Adam Mosseri said: “There is a lot of misinformation about the WhatsApp ToS right now. The policy update does *not* affect the privacy of your messages with friends or family in any way. The changes are related to messaging a business on WhatsApp, which is optional.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk also fueled the surge when he endorsed “Use Signal” to his more than 42 million followers on twitter. So far, Signal has become one of the most downloaded apps on Android and iOS; Telegram which follows closely at no.2 behind Signal on the App Store, saw more than 25 million new users sign up in just the last 72 hours.
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