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from the when-you-can't-trust-your-friends dept.
The French government is looking to move officials away from popular apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram -- even if the French president likes using them.
As Facebook continues to reel from the Cambridge Analytica saga, the French government is taking precautions against the social media behemoth's WhatsApp service.
The French government is developing its own encrypted messaging service, Reuters reported Monday. The goal is to alleviate concerns about privacy breaches, which could result in the leaking of private conversations between top officials to foreign parties.
The French government's privacy concerns come amid a backlash against Facebook following a massive data leak concerning millions of users. WhatsApp, which provides encrypted messaging services, is owned by Facebook and shares user information with its parent company -- something that hasn't sat well with privacy regulators.
In December 2016, the European Union expressed concerns over Facebook's access to WhatsApp users' data. Just a month later, the popular social messaging platform was sued in German court over the issue, while French privacy watchdog CNIL warned WhatsApp in the same year to stop sharing user data with Facebook or risk a fine. Last month, Facebook agreed not to access any data from WhatsApp until its activities are considered compliant with a Europe-wide General Data Protection Regulation expected in May.
[...] While few details are available on the French-built messaging service, a ministry spokeswoman told Reuters the app is being designed by a "state-employed developer" and tested by "about 20 officials and top civil servants." It is hoped that the use of this app will become mandatory across the government by this summer before being rolled out to all French citizens, she added.
CNET has reached out to the French government for a comment.
(Score: 2) by edIII on Wednesday April 18 2018, @01:05AM (2 children)
The sad thing is, I can see you in a room with people wanting to give you lots of money for all that impressive word salad.
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday April 18 2018, @07:02AM (1 child)
Would you be so kind to tell where that room with those people waiting is located?
I'll make sure to hire a limousine for DECbot to get there and deliver the presentation; nothing else in return but an entry for me with a camera and a press badge. I even promise I'll lmao in private, not during the presentation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 1) by DECbot on Wednesday April 18 2018, @02:40PM
Follow up Q&A:
How are the messages transmitted?
Just like how you would normally share cat videos across the internet.
How do you retrieve the message from the video?
And what? Break the encryption?
cats~$ sudo chown -R us /home/base