WhatsApp’s new AI update called “Privacy Nightmare” – the app feels the world.
Most rivals usually deploy behind the boardroom door. But this is not the case. Signal’s president Meredith Whitaker has accused him of joining social media to criticize WhatsApp’s latest AI-powered update and crossing the line into surveillance ads. There was no vague language or corporate diplomacy.
At the heart of this is the integration of new pushes and floating AI assistants into the application to integrate WhatsApp ads. Meta frams this as innovation, but the signal calls it a betrayal of user privacy. So what’s actually going on, and why is this class making so many noises?
Public callout that ignites fuse
This was not a blog post. It was not an interview. The CEO of the Signal was one sharp tweetMeredith Whitaker couldn’t be held back when she denounced whatsapp Surveillance ads, This is a direct hit This latest attempt to monetize messengers AI and advertising.
Is the update of the issue?
- whatsapp We have started experimenting with advertising in the (update) tab, where users can find status.
- I’m testing You have an assistant It may pop up in the chat. Useful and optional.
- However, for privacy advocates like Whitaker, this is completely different. That’s a shift to Invasive pursuit.
For users, they saw Meta first implemented AI chat assistants and now publishing ads to monetize the platform. WhatsApp’s own brand was built on a free tool that prioritizes privacy and encryption.
Whitaker believes People deserve privacy It also shows how AI chat assistants extract data under the guise of convenience. Her message wasn’t just from WhatsApp. Some people are targeting users, regulators, and assume that end-to-end encryption is total.
Signal versus meta
For years, the signal has positioned itself as an anti-meta. There is no ads, no tracking, no metadata retention. Unlike most messaging applications, Signal’s promise never wavered, even as AI hype swept the industry. Whittaker’s criticism is not only about whatsApp’s new tools, but also about what they represent.
- I have WhatsApp 2 billion users every monthand even a mild rollout will bring about significant revenue.
- The signal team considers this to be a Clear costwhich are measured in terms of surveillance creep, user trust erosion, and normalized data extraction.
Looking back at this model, there has already been a fire in court. META currently faces multiple legal challenges across Europe, and how will it handle data and consent, particularly in the GDPR rules.
- in Germany, Ireland, Norwayregulators argue that Meta’s advertising practices bypass user choices.
- I’ll rely on it instead Contractual Necessity Justify behavioral targeting.
Meta viewed this as an innovation, the signal viewed it as an intrusion, and the sand lines never looked sharp.
What does this mean for a tech giant?
WhatsApp isn’t the only move in meta. They signal other regions of the industry that even the most private platforms that their users can become monetization tools. If WhatsApp, once considered a relatively safe space, is a fair game for advertising and AI prompts, what is an off limit?
- The strategy itself carries risks as European regulators sharpen the implementation of the GDPR.
- Meta’s advertising model can be legal liability, not just business assets.
- Several EU groups have already accused meta of bypassing real opt-in, and could become more aggressive under new frameworks such as digital market law enforcement.
Furthermore, Meta has put its reputation at risk, rebuilding trust after the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Facebook papers, and repeated algorithm controversies.
By deploying WhatsApp ads, many users are the spaces associated with personal private communications, risking dominating old questions.
Meanwhile, Signal grabs the moment with vocal leadership, philosophy and rising media appeal. It secures itself as an alternative and as an ethical application.
Why this discussion is important to users
For most people, messaging applications are a tool for communicating with friends, family and colleagues. However, when AI assistants are integrated into chat and ads break into status, the perimeter begins to shift. What was previously a private channel has not been redesigned to preserve engagement.
Signal attacks on WhatsApp are more than just a PR job. It is a line in the sand between business models that harvest data by default, and a platform that resists it.
The question is not whether AI and odds rebuild the application, but whether users will continue to recognize the space they started when the update is complete.
