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WhatsApp
AI Advancements CyberCrime Cybersecurity CyberThreat New Transition Privacy Threat Technology Usernames WhatsApp

WhatsApp Moves Toward Usernames, Phasing Out Phone Numbers

 


WhatsApp has announced enhancements to its contact management features, allowing users to add and manage contacts from any device. Previously, contact management was limited to mobile devices, requiring users to input phone numbers or scan QR codes. The update will soon enable users to manage contacts via WhatsApp Web and Windows, with plans to expand to other linked devices. Meta has revealed some exciting new features coming to WhatsApp, making it simpler to add and manage contacts. 

Soon, users will be able to privately add and manage their contacts, no matter what device they’re using. While the messaging platform already offers cross-platform support, users were able to add a new contact only via the primary Android phone or iOS handset — by adding a phone number or scanning a QR code. 

It's particularly a problem in the age when WhatsApp wants to be everywhere, with cross-device syncing between users' smartphone, web, and desktop apps. If users wanted to add a new contact while using WhatsApp on their computer, for example, too bad: Users needed to use their smartphone.

Now, however, WhatsApp is fixing the issue: The company announced on Tuesday that WhatsApp will soon let users add and store their contacts on any device, including the web or the desktop app, meaning they will no longer need to open their smartphone app just to save a contact. This can be handy, especially for business users, now that WhatsApp lets users run two different accounts on one device. Users can save contacts to their business WhatsApp account without crowding their phone's contact book. According to WhatsApp, the contacts will be saved using a new encrypted storage system called Identity Proof Linked Storage (IPLS). 

The system will generate an encrypted key every time users save a contact. In effect, their saved contacts are protected by encryption: Only users can retrieve their contacts from WhatsApp's servers. In a press release, WhatsApp notes that users will soon be able to add and manage contacts through WhatsApp Web and also through Windows platforms or their preferred devices, like Android tablets. In some cases, users would want a certain contact only on WhatsApp and not as a contact on their phone contacts list. The messaging platform also adds such possibility, making handling personal and business numbers easier.

It helps when people have more than one account on their device. WhatsApp adds that contacts saved on the messaging platform can be readily restored when a user switches devices, which will be useful if they lose their smartphones and phone numbers. The messaging platform's primary aim with the introduction of these new capabilities is to eventually "manage and save contacts by usernames." Usernames aren't new, and most Android apps and even Meta-owned apps like Instagram utilize them. 

They create a unique identity for a person, irrespective of their phone number. This is an extra layer of privacy on the platform, which is likely to be coming soon to WhatsApp. Future updates will include the ability to manage contacts using usernames, enhancing privacy by eliminating the need to share phone numbers. This development aims to provide users with greater control and security over their contact information. WhatsApp is undergoing significant changes, moving toward implementing usernames as an alternative to traditional phone numbers for managing contacts on its platform. This transition marks a strategic effort to offer users more privacy and flexibility in their communication. 

One of the key benefits of this new approach is the convenience it provides to users who maintain multiple WhatsApp accounts on a single device. The introduction of usernames will streamline account management, allowing users to distinguish between different accounts more easily. Furthermore, when switching devices, users will find it simpler to restore contacts, even if they have lost access to their original smartphone or phone number. This added capability ensures continuity and simplifies the process of transitioning between devices. 

WhatsApp's long-term vision for this initiative is to enable contact management through usernames rather than relying solely on phone numbers. By doing so, the platform aims to enhance user privacy and offer more control over personal information. This shift will allow individuals to share their WhatsApp contact details without disclosing their phone number, thereby reducing the risks associated with sharing sensitive information and improving overall user security. 

The use of usernames as unique identifiers is not a novel concept in the tech world; many popular Android applications, including Meta-owned platforms like Instagram, have successfully integrated username-based systems for contact management. This model not only fosters a more secure environment but also allows users to establish a distinct identity separate from their phone number. In upcoming updates, WhatsApp is expected to further expand these capabilities by enabling more comprehensive contact management through usernames. 

The new features will likely include options for managing contacts and other privacy settings more intuitively, reinforcing the messaging platform's commitment to providing a more secure and user-friendly experience. As WhatsApp adopts these changes, it sets the stage for a more privacy-focused approach, empowering users to protect their contact information while maintaining the convenience of seamless communication. With these updates, WhatsApp continues to position itself at the forefront of secure and versatile communication technology. 

By embracing usernames and enhancing cross-device functionality, the platform not only addresses the evolving needs of its users but also anticipates future trends in digital privacy and convenience. The introduction of encrypted contact storage and flexible management options further solidifies WhatsApp's commitment to protecting user data while streamlining the user experience. As the platform gradually shifts away from phone number dependency, it ushers in a new era where privacy, security, and usability are given paramount importance, setting a standard for other messaging services to follow.
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X
AI Artificial Intelligence Cyberattacks CyberCrime Cyberthreats GDPR NOYB Privacy Threat Technology Twitter X

X Confronts EU Legal Action Over Alleged AI Privacy Missteps

 


X, the artificial intelligence technology company of Elon Musk, has reportedly been accused of unlawfully feeding personal information about its users to its artificial intelligence technology without their consent according to a privacy campaign group based in Vienna. This complaint has been filed by a group of individuals known as Noyb.

In early September, Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) filed a lawsuit against X over its data collection practices to train its artificial intelligence systems. A series of privacy complaints against X, the company formerly known as Twitter, have been filed after it was revealed the platform was using data obtained from European users to train an artificial intelligence chatbot for its Grok AI product without their consent. 

In the past couple of weeks, a social media user discovered that X had begun quietly processing the posts of regional users for AI training purposes late last month. In response to the revelation, TechCrunch reported that the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), responsible for ensuring that X complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), expressed "surprise" at the revelation. As Musk's company, X has recently announced, all its users can choose whether Grok can access their public posts, the website's artificial intelligence chatbot that is operated by Musk's company X. 

If a user wishes to opt out of receiving communications from them, he or she must uncheck a box in their privacy settings. Despite this, Judge Leonie Reynolds observed that it appeared clear that X had begun processing its EU users' data to train its AI systems on May 7 only to offer the option to opt out from July 16. Additionally, she added, that not all users had access to the feature when it was first introduced. 

 An organization called NOYB has filed several lawsuits against X on behalf of consumers, a long-standing thorn in Big Tech's side and a persistent privacy activist group. Max Schrems, the head of NOYB, is a privacy activist who successfully challenged Meta's transfer of EU data to the US as violating the EU's stringent GDPR laws in a lawsuit he filed against Meta in 2017. As a result of this case, Meta has been fined €1.2 billion as well as faced logistical challenges, in June, due to complaints from NOYB, Meta was forced to pause the use of EU users’ data to train the AI systems it has since developed. 

There is another issue that NOYB wants to address. They argue that X did not obtain the consent of European Union users before using their data to teach Grok to train Grok. It has been reported that NOYB's spokesperson has told The Daily Upside that the company may find itself facing a fine of up to 4% of its annual revenue as a result of these complaints. Additionally, the punitive measures would also aggravate the situation, as X has a lot less money to play with than Meta does:  

It should be noted that X is no longer a publicly traded company, so this means that it is difficult to determine how its cash reserves are doing. However, people know that Musk bought the company in 2022, and when he bought it, it took on roughly $25 billion in debt with a very high leverage ratio.  In the years since the deal was made, the banks that helped finance the transaction have had an increasingly difficult time unloading their shares of the debt, and Fidelity has recently announced a discount on its stake, which gives a hint as to how the firm might be valued. 

As of last March, Fidelity's stake had dropped to a value of 67% less than it was when the company acquired the company. Although Musk was the one who bought Twitter, even before he acquired Twitter, the company had struggled to remain consistently profitable for many years as it was a small fish in a big tech pond. 

A key goal of NOYB is to conduct a full-scale investigation into how X was able to train its generative artificial intelligence model, Grok, without any consultation with its users to achieve a better understanding of what they did. Companies that interact directly with end users only need to display them with a yes/no prompt before using their contact information, Schrems told The Information. There are many other things they do this for regularly, so it would be very possible to train AI in this manner as well. 

The Grok2 beta is scheduled to be released on January 1st 2024, and this legal action comes only a few days before Grok 2 is set to launch its beta version. In the last few years, major tech companies have faced ethical challenges associated with the training of large amounts of data. It was widely reported in June 2024 that Meta was suing 11 European countries over its new privacy policies, which showed the company's intent to use the data generated by each account to train a machine learning algorithm upon the data. 

As a result of this particular case, the GDPR is intended to protect European citizens against unexpected uses of their data, such as those that could affect their right to privacy and their freedom to be free from intrusion. Noyb contends that X's use of a legitimate interest as a legal basis for its data collection and use may not be valid. The company cites a ruling by the top court of Europe last summer, which held that user consent is mandatory for similar cases involving data usage to target ads. 

The report outlines further concerns that providers of generative AI systems are frequently claiming they are unable to comply with other key GDPR requirements, such as the right to be forgotten, or the right to access personal data that has been collected. OpenAI's ChatGPT is also being widely criticized for many of the same concerns specifically related to GDPR.
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Technology Attacks
Automobiles Car Cyberattacks CyberCrime Cybersecurity Data Breach Privacy Threat Technology Attacks

Data Highways: Navigating the Privacy Pitfalls of New Automobiles

 


There is a possibility that these vehicles may be collecting vast amounts of information about their users that can be accessed by advertisers, data brokers, insurance companies and others, and that information could be shared with several companies including advertisers, data brokers, and insurance companies. 

Privacy experts believe users may want to hold off on getting all the connected accessories that come with new cars to protect their data. From the beginning, tech companies have known that data can be sold for dollars, so they have been collecting all the information possible for them to sell it to their highest bidder. 

Data sharing between users' cars is a long-standing practice, but it seems their part is much bigger than most people would suspect; in fact, it might even be the biggest seller of users' data. Car companies sometimes allow consumers to adjust the connectivity settings, and drivers can read about how that is done in their car's privacy policy, but there are times when it is not possible to turn off all data sharing. 

As connected cars become more prevalent, advocates of consumer data privacy are raising concerns about their proliferation, and their proliferation is raising alarms regarding their proliferation. The Counterpoint Technology Market Research report estimates that by 2030, more than 95% of passenger cars sold will have embedded connectivity. As a result, car manufacturers can now offer safety and security functions, predictive maintenance functions as well as prognostic capabilities. 

Although this is a good thing, it also opens the door for companies to collect, share, or sell personal information such as driving habits and other personal information that people may not wish to share publicly. Although most auto manufacturers offer the option of opting out of unnecessary data sharing, according to Counterpoint senior analyst Parv Sharma, these settings are often hidden within menus, as they are with many other consumer technologies that make a profit by selling data. 

By 2030, McKinsey reported that a variety of use cases for car data monetization could generate an annual revenue stream of $250 billion to $400 billion for automakers. It is true that there may be valid reasons for collecting information about a driver or vehicle for safety and functional purposes, and that certain essential services, such as data sharing for emergency and security reasons, may not be feasible or prohibitive to opt out of. 

In the world of predictive maintenance, there are many reasons why manufacturers are releasing more data, one of which is that manufacturers can use it to determine if a particular part they use in their fleet has a tendency to fail before they expected it, which is why a recall is issued, according to James Hodgson, a director of smart mobility and automotive research at global technology intelligence firm ABI Research. 

Despite this, there are growing concerns regarding privacy issues, especially as car companies get into the insurance business themselves, and as they share driver data with insurers. For instance, insurance carriers could report driving habits and car usage details to data collectors, who could then share them with them to determine rates. 

There is a new type of insurance, referred to as usage-based insurance, offered by Progressive and Root, which offers drivers the possibility of earning lower rates as a result of allowing insurers to install devices in their vehicles that track their driving patterns. To gain a better understanding of the data collected by the automobile manufacturer, consumers might want to read over its privacy policy.

In addition to their cars, consumers also have access to radio apps, GPS navigation, and On-Star services that all have their own privacy and data collection policies, Caltrider said. Although there are no federal laws regulating the privacy of personal information, some states have adopted legislation that addresses this issue. 

There are various regulatory efforts underway to understand carmakers' data-sharing practices and reign in possible violations of privacy, but Michigan isn't one of them. The state does have a more limited set of consumer privacy laws in place, but Michigan isn't one of them. In July 2023, the California Privacy Protection Agency's enforcement division announced that it would be conducting a review of the connected vehicle industry. 

A spokesperson declined to comment further, however, saying that the investigation is underway. A federal action could be taken against carmakers if they use data to share with other companies. According to Zweifel-Keegan, basic disclosure of a company's data practices will not always be sufficient to avoid the Federal Trade Commission's enforcement actions. Increasingly, the issue is receiving broader attention. 

Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, sent letters to 14 car makers in December asking them to ensure that privacy protections are implemented and enforced in their cars. As Hodgson pointed out, the best-case scenario for automakers and consumers might be that as consumer awareness grows, more carmakers will use stricter data privacy practices as a marketing tool, similar to how Apple makes its products stand out from its competition. 

A lawsuit against GM has been filed on behalf of consumers. GM, who is facing a lawsuit, says it has stopped sharing driver data with insurance brokers who work with insurance companies to avoid the lawsuit. There was a press release from GM, which stated, "Customer trust is very important to us, and we are continuously evaluating our privacy policies and procedures to protect it.".
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