How CIA Created Signal Messenger App
Published: January 29, 2021
Recently, after WhatsApp threatened to change its privacy policy, people were nuged to the alternate Signal messenger app. However, serious discussion of Signal’s history, and funding sources, has been entirely absent from the puff pieces by media. This investigation reveals how CIA created the Signal app, funded by the US government to protect communications of its agents deployed for regime change.
Open Whisper Systems
Signal was launched by now-defunct Open Whisper Systems (OWS) in 2013, brainchild of shadowy tech guru ‘Moxie Marlinspike’ – real name Matthew Rosenfeld.
In February 2018, responsibility for managing the app passed to the nonprofit Signal Foundation, launched with $50 million in startup capital provided by billionaire former Facebook higher-up Brian Acton, the Foundation’s executive chair.
highest number of its users.
iii About 40 percent of Indians use this digital messenger.
As media took cognizance of the new development, WhatsApp groups started getting crammed with messages cautioning the people against the ‘new’ dangers of using WhatsApp and advising them to switch to Signal or Telegram – two other messenger apps.
These WhatsApp messages, which were based on media reports, dwelt on how Signal is the ‘best’ and ‘Telegram’ ‘good enough’ for protecting the privacy of our data. But, if we would continue to use WhatsApp, our privacy, our bank accounts and many other things would be in peril. It was also said that WhatsApp and other companies would mint money by selling our data to other private companies. The fact is that changes made by WhatsApp in its terms of service did not warrant such a great alarm. The fact is that surveillance of the people by Tech Giants is something that has been happening for years. It cannot be countered by merely switc
The fast-growing encrypted messaging app is developing features that would make it more vulnerable to abuse. Current and former employees are sounding the alarm
Close icon
Two crossed lines that form an X . It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification. Signal CEO Moxie Marlinspike.
WhatsApp s rival Signal got a huge boost in user numbers this month.
Employees are worried Signal isn t doing enough to prevent misuse of its platform and head off extremism, The Verge reported.
Telegram, another encrypted-messaging company, is also under scrutiny after far-right users have migrated to the app.
Employees at the encrypted-messaging app Signal are worried an explosion in growth prompted by users moving over from its rival WhatsApp could cause extremism to spread on the platform, according to a new report from The Verge.
Close icon
Two crossed lines that form an X . It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification. WhatsApp; Signal; Samantha Lee/Insider
WhatsApp caused a user stampede to rival encrypted messaging app Signal by sending users new terms and conditions.
Users were panicked by the notification WhatsApp sent out, thinking it meant the app would share more data with Facebook, its parent company.
In fact, WhatsApp was already sharing their data with Facebook all the notification did was draw attention to it.
On January 6, WhatsApp caused a user stampede.
The app sent users a notification asking them to sign off on updated terms and conditions, which stipulated it could share reams of metadata including their phone numbers, locations, and contacts with its parent company Facebook. If users did not consent, the notification said, they would lose access to WhatsApp.