Khaberni - The "WhatsApp" app ignited a widespread controversy on the internet after a joking post on platform X was interpreted by users as indicating a potential breach of their privacy.
The app, owned by Meta, posted on platform X saying: "People who end their messages with (lol), we see you and respect you."
Although the post appeared to be an attempt to inject humor—referring to users who prefer to end their messages with "lol" instead of a period—the phrase "we see you" raised doubts and questions among users about the secrecy of encrypted conversations within the app.
Platform users widely shared this post, achieving more than 6.9 million views on platform X, with comments ranging from ridicule to concern.
One user wondered: "We see you? How? What about end-to-end encryption?", and another wrote: "So, no privacy at all", while a third commented sarcastically: "Decrypting end-to-end encryption".
"WhatsApp" has used end-to-end encryption since 2016, which ensures that only the sender and the receiver can read the contents of the messages, with no possibility for any third party, even the company itself.
The app affirms on its official website that: "Privacy and security are essential parts of our identity, and that is why we have integrated end-to-end encryption into all of our services. When activated, it protects messages, photos, videos, documents, and calls from falling into the wrong hands."
The system works by generating private encryption keys that are automatically granted only to the parties in the conversation, preventing any outside party from reading the messages during their transmission. If encryption is decrypted, a third party can access the data, which is a direct breach of the privacy principle.
Since "WhatsApp" has always emphasized its absolute commitment to end-to-end encryption in its prior statements, many saw the recent post as contradictory to this policy.
One user wrote on platform X: "So, end-to-end encryption is just a lie", while another commented: "It's amazing that people believe that end-to-end encryption is effective in the first place."
Some users even went so far as to demand the dismissal of WhatsApp's social media accounts manager, with one jokingly writing: "This official has already been fired", while another wrote: "Tomorrow: Breaking News — 'WhatsApp' fires social media manager."
In response to this controversy, "WhatsApp" clarified that the phrase "we see you" was meant metaphorically and not literally, reaffirming in an official reply: "Your private messages remain between you and the recipient only. The phrase (we see) was meant to express our understanding of those who love to use (lol) at the end of their messages."
