data-privacy on S Anand

A cynical view of WhatsApp's Advanced Privacy

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:13:47 +0530

WhatsApp has an Advanced privacy mode they launched in Apr 2025. People in the chat:

Can’t ask Meta AI to answer questions, or to create images or summaries in this chat.
Cynical view: When regulators clamp down AI or users complain about AI, Meta can say “We asked users and they gave permission!”
Can’t export the chat.
Cynical view: When regulators force Meta to be inter-operable with Signal, Telegram, etc. Meta can say “Users don’t want to export their chats!” Also, easier to tell businesses “You can disable exports - less litigation risk”.
Can’t save media to their device gallery automatically.
Cynical view: When you want to switch to Telegram, Signal, these photos can’t be exported - so you have to stay on WhatsApp.

Hacking using keyboard whispers

Wed, 12 May 2004 12:00:00 +0000

It’s possible to make sense out of keyboard whispers.

Google-watch

Sat, 31 Aug 2002 12:00:00 +0000

Google-watch is against Google, because they’re unfair, and don’t respect privacy (via Salon). I still don’t mind, as long as I get good search results. But this “unfair” part I kind-of agree with. Wish Google would search recently updated sites better. And they’ve also got a point about the ordering. Sometimes, I would like to see the “less important” (low pagerank) sites on top.

Response to FBI demand to handover data

Wed, 19 Dec 2001 12:00:00 +0000

An interesting response to FBI’s demand to hand over login and password data.