Elon Musk Targets WhatsApp Privacy With Classic Meme, Recommends X Chat

Elon Musk has reignited his long-standing tech rivalry with Mark Zuckerberg, targeting WhatsApp over alleged privacy concerns. In a post on X, Musk shared a meme mocking the Meta CEO and promoting his own messaging platform, X Chat. “Reminds me of this classic meme. Use X Chat instead of WhatsApp! There will never be ‘hooks for advertising’ in X Chat,” Musk wrote, emphasizing X Chat’s ad-free approach.

The comments come amid claims by former Meta contractors that WhatsApp personnel could access users’ messages despite the platform’s end-to-end encryption. A Bloomberg report noted that these allegations prompted attention from U.S. regulators. WhatsApp responded to the claims, stating that they are false and that the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security had disavowed the purported investigation. The messaging service also reiterated its use of the open-source Signal protocol, which encrypts messages on users’ devices, ensuring that only intended recipients can decrypt communications.

Musk is not alone in questioning WhatsApp’s security. Telegram founder Pavel Durov has highlighted potential vulnerabilities, claiming his team discovered “multiple attack vectors” within WhatsApp’s encryption implementation. Musk has also previously criticized Signal, recommending users switch to X Chat for “secure” messaging. These critiques underline ongoing skepticism about Meta’s privacy policies, even as no independent technical audits have publicly substantiated breaches of encryption.

Also Read: Elon Musk Says WhatsApp Not Secure, Urges Switch to X Chat

WhatsApp has sought to reassure users, stating that message encryption keys remain inaccessible to both WhatsApp and Meta, and that content can only be shared when users themselves report issues. The platform emphasized that prior questions about encryption have surfaced repeatedly but have never been verified by independent technical evidence. Despite this, Musk and other tech figures continue to leverage these concerns to promote alternatives like X Chat and Telegram.

Industry observers note that the exchange underscores broader competition in the messaging market, where privacy and data security remain key battlegrounds. Musk’s approach, combining humor and criticism, not only targets Meta’s flagship messaging app but also positions X Chat as a secure and ad-free alternative for privacy-conscious users.

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