<ul data-eligibleForWebStory="false"><li>End-to-end encryption in messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram provides a false sense of security as metadata is often collected and can be used against users in authoritarian regimes.</li><li>Messaging apps must balance privacy commitments with the need to comply with various jurisdictions, leading to compromises and potential vulnerabilities for users.</li><li>Encryption does not prevent platforms from censoring content, and governments increasingly rely on companies to moderate speech, even in democracies.</li><li>To ensure chat safety, factors beyond encryption, such as governance, transparency, and ethical stances, are crucial in evaluating messaging apps.</li></ul>

The dark politics of messaging apps: end-to-end encryption isn’t enough

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