Heena Sharma Blog

  Taking a cue from its rival WhatsApp , the fast-growing encrypted messaging app Signal has announced to let users send money in cryptocurrency to friends and relatives, as it tests a new peer-to-peer payments system in the beta version of its app. Called Signal Payments, the new feature that is available in the UK first will currently support a privacy-focused payments network called Mobile Coin, which has its own currency, MOB. "As always, our goal is to keep your data in your hands rather than ours; Mobile Coin’s design means Signal does not have access to your balance, full transaction history, or funds," said Jun Harada, Signal's head of growth and communication. "You can also transfer your funds at any time if you want to switch to another app or service," he said in a statement late on Tuesday. The company said it aims payments in Signal to be fast, private, and work well on mobile devices. Read More

WhatsApp on Tuesday said its latest policy update does not affect the privacy of messages as the Facebook-owned company sought to address concerns around security of user data on the platform. In a blogpost, WhatsApp emphasised that it does not share users' contact lists or data of groups with Facebook for ads purposes, and that neither WhatsApp nor Facebook can read messages or hear calls between users on WhatsApp. Last week, WhatsApp had informed users of an update in its Terms of Service and privacy policy regarding how it processes user data and partners with Facebook to offer integrations across the social media giant's products. It also stated that users will have to agree to the new terms and policy by February 8, 2021, in order to continue using WhatsApp's service. This kickstarted a spate of conversations and memes on the internet over WhatsApp's alleged sharing of user information with Facebook, and many users have started shifting to rival platforms like Te