Meredith Whittaker4d ago
Use Signal. We promise, no AI clutter, and no surveillance ads, whatever the rest of the industry does. <3
Show threadMelroy van den Berg3d ago

@Mer__edith didn't whatsapp also promise no ads?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/06/16/whatsapp-breaks-co-founders-promise-of-no-ads/

WhatsApp breaks co-founder’s promise with plans to introduce ads

Meta reveals plans as app’s AI feature suffers furious backlash

The Telegraph
Show thread👊🇺🇸🔥
@melroy @Mer__edith Before Facebook bought them they did. But Facebook bought them, so ads in WhatsApp was an inevitability. They tricked 3B people.
Jun 18 at 6:35amWeb
Show threadMelroy van den Berg2d ago
@Avitus @Mer__edith exactly. And who are not saying the same can easily happen to Signal as well.
Show threadScotsBear 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿2d ago
@melroy @Avitus @Mer__edith

It can, but how likely is it? Are Signal looking to sell? Is anyone looking to buy?

Spreading fear about software based on groundless hypothetical scenarios is irresponsible doom-mongering. It's a risk -we can't ever discount the possibility- but it's currently insignificant risk, relying on past examples set by completely different people operating in a very different context, and an assortment of wet tea leaves in the bottom of a cup.

The original Whatsapp runners KEPT their promise: while they owned it there were no ads. That promise did not and could not extend past any point of sale (which at the time of the promise was not in the works in any sense). People believing that promises are somehow eternal and not subject to changing conditions need to re-evaluate.
Show thread👊🇺🇸🔥2d ago
@melroy @Mer__edith Signal is a charity and therefore has no profit-motive, unlike Facebook. Signal is also not run by an egomaniac, unlike Facebook.