WhatsApp users sue Meta over alleged message access

A class-action lawsuit accuses Meta of reading private WhatsApp messages despite the app's claim of end-to-end encryption. The lawsuit filed in a U.S. federal court involves thousands of users who allege their communications were accessed without consent. Meta’s own description of WhatsApp states that messages and calls are protected by encryption that prevents even the company from reading them.

The legal complaint argues that Meta and other companies had access to encrypted messages through undisclosed methods. Plaintiffs claim this violates privacy laws and breaches trust in a platform marketed as secure. The case follows previous scrutiny of tech companies handling user data, including Meta’s 2023 settlement over Cambridge Analytica.

WhatsApp’s encryption has been a key selling point since its acquisition by Meta in 2014. The app states that only the sender and recipient can read messages, with no intermediary access. Yet the lawsuit challenges this guarantee, citing evidence that Meta may have bypassed protections.

Legal experts say the case could set a precedent for how encryption claims are enforced. If successful, it may force companies to clarify how they handle encrypted data. Meta has not yet responded publicly to the allegations.

The lawsuit seeks damages and changes to WhatsApp’s data handling practices. It reflects growing concerns over corporate access to private communications under the guise of security.

Source: itavisen.no