Zuckerberg really wants iPhone users to switch to WhatsApp

Zuckerberg calls WhatsApp more private and secure than iMessage

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An ad displayed above Penn Station is making the rounds with Met and WhatsApp bosses pushing the message. This suggests that WhatsApp is a more secure and private alternative to iMessage.

The ad shows text bubbles modeled after Apple’s Messages app, one in green and one in blue. The third bubble shows a “private bubble” suggesting that WhatsApp is indeed a private platform.

Mark Zuckerberg posted a picture of this ad on his Instagram with text calling WhatsApp a “far more private and secure” platform. Cross-platform encrypted messaging with Android and the disappearance of chat are the reasons behind his claim.

The post also references Apple iCloud backups containing iMessage encryption keys. However, it incorrectly suggests that iPhone users do not have the option for end-to-end encrypted backups.

It is true that iPhone users cannot have encrypted conversations with Android users via iMessage. Apple has not adopted the RCS standard, which allows encrypted messaging certain circumstancesnor has Apple offered iMessage support for Android.

Disappearing messages are a trick offered by other messaging platforms like WhatsApp. It is not clear why this is promoted as a more “private” feature when it is prone to abuse.

Apple’s iMessage has an option to delete sent messages as long as it is done within three minutes. However, if sexually explicit material, threats, or other offensive material is sent and then deleted, users lack the data to take action on that abuse.

The most inaccurate statement made by Zuckerberg is the one about end-to-end encrypted backups. If an iPhone user chooses, they can back up their iPhone locally to a computer with encryption.

If the user opts for iCloud backups, then the encryption key for iMessage is included in the backup. This is intended to protect users from themselves, so that messages are not lost if a password is forgotten.

However, Apple’s method means that governments can subpoena Apple for information from a person’s encrypted iMessages stored in an iCloud backup. Apple says it only fulfills requests for data that are specific to the case and does not disclose any information beyond the intended scope.

A series of tweets from WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart made similar claims to Zuckerberg. He even incorrectly suggested that iMessage would revert to SMS without warning or consent — even though it exists switch for it.

Meta and Google are fighting back against Apple’s dominant iMessage platform using half-truths and colorful ads. Both companies seem to believe they can convince users that their platforms are safe and secure despite years of collecting and monetizing user data.