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{{Short description|Messaging and VoIP service owned by Meta}} | |||
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}} | |||
{{Use American English|date=December 2020}} | |||
{{Infobox software | |||
| name = WhatsApp | |||
| title = WhatsApp | |||
| logo = WhatsApp.svg | |||
| author = [[Brian Acton]], [[Jan Koum]] | |||
| developer = [[Meta Platforms]], Will Cathcart (Head of WhatsApp)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-whatsapp-tops-2-billion-users-ceo-vows-to-defend-encryption-11581516000 |newspaper=[[Wall Street Journal]] |title=As WhatsApp Tops 2 Billion Users, Its Boss Vows to Defend Encryption |access-date=April 2, 2020 |first=Jeff |last=Horwitz |date=February 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317001048/https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-whatsapp-tops-2-billion-users-ceo-vows-to-defend-encryption-11581516000 |archive-date=March 17, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=WashingtonPostWhatsAppPushback>{{cite news|first1=Will|last1=Cathcart|access-date=October 30, 2019|title=Why WhatsApp is pushing back on NSO Group hacking|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/10/29/why-whatsapp-is-pushing-back-nso-group-hacking/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030001047/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/10/29/why-whatsapp-is-pushing-back-nso-group-hacking/|archive-date=October 30, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| released = {{Start date and age|2009|01}} | |||
| ver layout = stacked | |||
| programming language = [[Erlang (programming language)|Erlang]]<ref name="fastcompany">{{cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3026758/inside-erlang-the-rare-programming-language-behind-whatsapps-success|title=Inside Erlang, The Rare Programming Language Behind WhatsApp's Success|work=fastcompany.com|first=Ainsley|last=O'Connell|date=February 21, 2014|access-date=December 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202171209/https://www.fastcompany.com/3026758/inside-erlang-the-rare-programming-language-behind-whatsapps-success|archive-date=February 2, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| operating system = [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]], [[KaiOS]], [[macOS]], [[Windows]] (The latter two require one-time verification from the mobile app client.) | |||
| size = 183.7 [[Megabyte|MB]] (iOS)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apps.apple.com/app/id310633997|title=WhatsApp Messenger|website=App Store|language=en-us|access-date=June 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430022747/https://apps.apple.com/app/id310633997|archive-date=April 30, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><br /> | |||
78.6 MB (Android)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/whatsapp-inc/whatsapp/|title=WhatsApp Messenger APKs|website=APKMirror|access-date=May 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224030818/https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/whatsapp-inc/whatsapp/|archive-date=February 24, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| genre = [[Instant messaging]], [[VoIP]] | |||
| language count = 40 (iOS) and 60 (Android)<ref>{{Cite web|title=WhatsApp Help Center - How to change WhatsApp's language|url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/account-and-profile/how-to-change-whatsapps-language/?lang=en|access-date=March 26, 2021|website=whatsapp.com|language=en}}</ref> | |||
| license = [[Proprietary software]] with [[EULA]]<br><small>"European Region"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/?lang=en|title=WhatsApp|website=whatsapp.com}}</ref><br>"others"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/business-terms/?lang=en|title=WhatsApp Business Terms of Service|website=whatsapp.com}}</ref></small> | |||
}} | |||
{{Meta sidebar}} | |||
'''WhatsApp''' (also called '''WhatsApp Messenger''') is a [[freeware]], [[cross-platform]], [[Centralized computing|centralized]] [[instant messaging]] (IM) and [[Voice over IP|voice-over-IP]] (VoIP) service owned by United States tech conglomerate [[Meta Platforms]].<ref name="metz-wired">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2016/04/forget-apple-vs-fbi-whatsapp-just-switched-encryption-billion-people/|title=Forget Apple vs. the FBI: WhatsApp Just Switched on Encryption for a Billion People|last=Metz|first=Cade|date=April 5, 2016|magazine=Wired|access-date=May 13, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409122905/https://www.wired.com/2016/04/forget-apple-vs-fbi-whatsapp-just-switched-encryption-billion-people/|archive-date=April 9, 2017|issn=1059-1028}}</ref> It allows users to send [[text message|text]], [[voice message]]s and video messages,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whatsapp.com/features/|title=Features|website=whatsapp.com|language=en|access-date=May 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528133052/https://www.whatsapp.com/features/|archive-date=May 28, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> make voice and video calls, and share images, documents, user locations, and other content.<ref>{{Citation|url=http://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/whatsapp-voice-calling-now-open-to-all-android-users-report-669693|title=Voice calling|date=March 12, 2015|access-date=March 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317074148/http://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/whatsapp-voice-calling-now-open-to-all-android-users-report-669693|archive-date=March 17, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="WhatsApp's Voice Calling">{{cite web|title=WhatsApp Voice Calling|website=[[Forbes]] |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2015/04/07/facebooks-whatsapp-voice-calling|date=April 4, 2015|access-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019073323/https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2015/04/07/facebooks-whatsapp-voice-calling|archive-date=October 19, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> WhatsApp's [[Client (computing)|client]] application runs on [[mobile device]]s, and can be accessed from computers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/whatsapp-desktop-client-windows-mac-second-best/|title=WhatsApp Desktop Client for Windows & Mac Is Only Second Best|website=MakeUseOf|date=February 20, 2018|language=en-US|access-date=June 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227185839/https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/whatsapp-desktop-client-windows-mac-second-best/|archive-date=February 27, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The service requires a [[cellular network|cellular]] [[telephone number|mobile telephone number]] to sign up.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/en/general/21009863/?category=5245245|title=WhatsApp FAQ – Using one WhatsApp account on multiple phones, or with multiple phone numbers|website=whatsapp.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510051542/https://faq.whatsapp.com/en/general/21009863/?category=5245245|archive-date=May 10, 2018|access-date=May 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2018, WhatsApp released a standalone business app called WhatsApp Business which can communicate with the standard WhatsApp client.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/whatsapp-business-app-download-android-google-play-iphone-features-a8167631.html|title=There's a new version of WhatsApp|date=January 19, 2018|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=June 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805075019/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/whatsapp-business-app-download-android-google-play-iphone-features-a8167631.html|archive-date=August 5, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/paularmstrongtech/2019/04/06/how-to-know-if-your-business-should-use-the-new-whatsapp-business-app/|title=How To Know If Your Business Should Use The New WhatsApp Business App|last=Armstrong|first=Paul|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=June 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408201512/https://www.forbes.com/sites/paularmstrongtech/2019/04/06/how-to-know-if-your-business-should-use-the-new-whatsapp-business-app/|archive-date=April 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
The service was created by WhatsApp Inc. of [[Mountain View, California]], which was acquired by Facebook in February 2014 for approximately [[United States dollar|US$]]19.3 billion.<ref name="wsj20140220">{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-to-buy-whatsapp-for-16-billion-1392847766|title=Facebook to Pay $19 Billion for WhatsApp|last1=Albergotti|first1=Reed|date=February 20, 2014|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=September 20, 2019|last2=MacMillan|first2=Douglas|pages=A1, A6|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660|last3=Rusli|first3=Evelyn M.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002220233/https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-to-buy-whatsapp-for-16-billion-1392847766|archive-date=October 2, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="fb-buyout">{{cite press release|title=Facebook to Acquire WhatsApp|url= http://newsroom.fb.com/News/805/Facebook-to-Acquire-WhatsApp|date= February 19, 2014|access-date= February 19, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140220020357/http://newsroom.fb.com/News/805/Facebook-to-Acquire-WhatsApp|archive-date= February 20, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> It became the world's most popular messaging application by 2015,<ref name="Metz-2016-04-05a"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/09/11/facebook-incs-whatsapp-hits-900-million-users-what.aspx|title=Facebook Inc.'s WhatsApp Hits 900 Million Users: What Now?|first=Leo|last=Sun|date=September 11, 2015|work=The Motley Fool|access-date=October 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151014235930/http://www.gb-whatsapp.website/investing/general/2015/09/11/facebook-incs-whatsapp-hits-900-million-users-what.aspx|archive-date=October 14, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> and had more than 2{{nbsp}}billion users worldwide by February 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/10000666/Two-Billion-Users--Connecting-the-World-Privately|title=WhatsApp Blog|website=whatsapp.com|language=en|access-date=February 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214043828/https://blog.whatsapp.com/10000666/Two-Billion-Users--Connecting-the-World-Privately|archive-date=February 14, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> By 2016, it had become the primary means of Internet communication in regions including Latin America, the Indian subcontinent, and large parts of Europe and Africa.<ref name="Metz-2016-04-05a">{{Cite magazine|last=Metz|first=Cade|title=Forget Apple vs. the FBI: WhatsApp Just Switched on Encryption for a Billion People|url=https://www.wired.com/2016/04/forget-apple-vs-fbi-whatsapp-just-switched-encryption-billion-people/|magazine=Wired|date=April 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405164942/http://www.wired.com/2016/04/forget-apple-vs-fbi-whatsapp-just-switched-encryption-billion-people/|archive-date=April 5, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
== History == | |||
{{For timeline}} | |||
{{WhatsApp timeline}} | |||
=== 2009–2014 === | |||
WhatsApp was founded in February 2009 by [[Brian Acton]] and [[Jan Koum]], former employees of [[Yahoo!]]. In January 2009, after Koum purchased an [[iPhone]], he and Acton decided to create an app for the [[App Store (iOS)|App Store]]. The idea started off as an app that would display statuses in a phone's Contacts menu, showing if a person was at work or on a call.<ref name="rags" /> | |||
Their discussions often took place at the home of Koum's Russian friend Alex Fishman in West San Jose. They realized that to take the idea further, they would need an iPhone developer. Fishman visited RentACoder.com, found Russian developer Igor Solomennikov, and introduced him to Koum.{{r|rags}} | |||
Koum named the app WhatsApp to sound like "[[wikt:what's up|what's up]]". On February 24, 2009, he incorporated<ref name="Article of Incorporation">{{cite web|url=https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/Document/RetrievePDF?Id=03107761-5735434|title=Article of Incorporation on California's Secretary Of State website|date=February 24, 2009|access-date=December 20, 2020|archive-date=March 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318054743/https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/Document/RetrievePDF?Id=03107761-5735434|url-status=dead}}</ref> WhatsApp Inc. in California. However, when early versions of WhatsApp kept [[Crash (computing)|crashing]], Koum considered giving up and looking for a new job. Acton encouraged him to wait for a "few more months".<ref name="rags">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2014/02/19/exclusive-inside-story-how-jan-koum-built-whatsapp-into-facebooks-new-19-billion-baby/|title=Exclusive: The Rags-To-Riches Tale Of How Jan Koum Built WhatsApp Into Facebook's New $19 Billion Baby|first=Parmy|last=Olsen|magazine=[[Forbes]]|date=February 2, 2014|access-date=January 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220081845/http://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2014/02/19/exclusive-inside-story-how-jan-koum-built-whatsapp-into-facebooks-new-19-billion-baby/|archive-date=February 20, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In June 2009, when the app had been downloaded by only a handful of Fishman's Russian-speaking friends, Apple launched [[push technology|push notifications]], allowing users to be pinged even when not using the app. | |||
Koum updated WhatsApp so that everyone in the user's network would be notified when a user's status changed. This new facility, to Koum's surprise, was used by users to ping "each other with jokey custom statuses like, 'I woke up late' or 'I'm on my way.'"{{r|rags}} | |||
Fishman said "At some point it sort of became instant messaging".{{r|rags}} | |||
WhatsApp 2.0 was released in August 2009 with a purpose-designed messaging component; the number of active users suddenly increased to 250,000. | |||
Although Acton was working on another startup idea, he decided to join the company.<ref name="History" /> In October 2009, Acton persuaded five former friends at Yahoo! to invest $250,000 in [[seed funding]], and Acton became a co-founder and was given a stake. He officially joined WhatsApp on November 1.<ref name="History" /> After months at [[Beta test|beta]] stage, the application launched in November 2009 on the App Store, exclusively for the iPhone. Koum then hired a friend in [[Los Angeles]], Chris Peiffer, to develop a [[BlackBerry]] version, which arrived two months later.<ref name="History" /> Subsequently, WhatsApp for Symbian OS was added in May 2010, and for Android OS in August 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/08/27/three-quarters-of-whatsapp-users-are-on-android-study-finds/ |title=Three-quarters of WhatsApp users are on Android, 22% on iOS (study) |first=Paul |last=Sawers |date=August 27, 2015 |access-date=May 7, 2021}}</ref> In 2010 Google made multiple acquisition offers for WhatsApp, which were all declined.<ref name="Neeraj">{{Cite AV media |people=Neeraj Arora |title= Neeraj Arora on learnings from his WhatsApp journey |date=July 3, 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJl27KvUDn0 |publisher=[[Accel India]] |time=19m |lang=en}}</ref> | |||
To cover the cost of sending verification texts to users, WhatsApp was changed from a free service to a paid one. In December 2009, the ability to send photos was added to the iOS version. By early 2011, WhatsApp was one of the top 20 apps in the U.S. Apple App Store.<ref name="History" /> | |||
In April 2011, [[Sequoia Capital]] invested about $8 million for more than 15% of the company, after months of negotiation by Sequoia partner [[Jim Goetz]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-02-20/sequoia-s-whatsapp-stake-said-worth-about-3-5-billion|title=Sequoia Said to Reap $3.5 Billion in Deal|last=Levy|first=Ari|date=February 19, 2014|website=Bloomberg.com|access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018235715/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-02-20/sequoia-s-whatsapp-stake-said-worth-about-3-5-billion|archive-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-whatsapp-facebook-sequoia-idUSBREA1K04720140221#vA3wxFHSqy1OIRZI.97|title=With WhatsApp deal, Sequoia Capital burnishes reputation|last=McBride|first=Sarah|date=February 21, 2014|journal=Reuters|access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521011300/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-whatsapp-facebook-sequoia-idUSBREA1K04720140221#vA3wxFHSqy1OIRZI.97|archive-date=May 21, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/04/08/sequoia-whatsapp-funding/|title=Sequoia Invests $8 Million In Messaging App Maker WhatsApp|last=Wauters|first=Robin|website=TechCrunch.com|date=April 8, 2011 |access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504160125/https://techcrunch.com/2011/04/08/sequoia-whatsapp-funding/|archive-date=May 4, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
By February 2013, WhatsApp had about 200 million active users and 50 staff members. Sequoia invested another $50 million, and WhatsApp was valued at $1.5 billion.<ref name="History"/> Some time in 2013<ref>{{Cite news |title=Why WhatsApp's Global Launch of Video Calling in India Is Big |date=November 15, 2016 |last1=Vengurlekar |first1=Ankit |publisher=[[The Quint]] |url=https://www.thequint.com/tech-and-auto/tech-news/whatsapp-video-calling-global-launch-new-delhi-facetime-facebook-messenger-google-apple-technology-social-media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115232418/https://www.thequint.com/tech-and-auto/tech-news/whatsapp-video-calling-global-launch-new-delhi-facetime-facebook-messenger-google-apple-technology-social-media#bypass-sw |archive-date=January 15, 2021 |access-date=January 13, 2021}}</ref> WhatsApp acquired Santa Clara-based startup SkyMobius, the developers of Vtok,<ref>{{Cite web |title=SkyMobius: Voice messaging app developer |date=December 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121222726/https://tracxn.com/d/companies/skymobius.com |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |url=https://tracxn.com/d/companies/skymobius.com |website=tracxn.com |access-date=January 13, 2021 |url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> a video and voice calling app.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vtok |website=twitter.com |url=https://twitter.com/vtokapp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210115233233/https://twitter.com/vtokapp |archive-date=January 15, 2021 |access-date=January 15, 2021 |url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> | |||
In a December 2013 blog post, WhatsApp claimed that 400 million active users used the service each month.<ref>{{cite web|title=400 Million Stories|url=http://blog.whatsapp.com/index.php/2013/12/400-million-stories/?lang=de|work=WhatsApp Blog|publisher=WhatsApp|access-date=January 17, 2014|first=Jan|last=Koum|date=December 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140412064444/http://blog.whatsapp.com/index.php/2013/12/400-million-stories/?lang=de|archive-date=April 12, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The year 2013 ended with $148 million in expenses, of which $138 million in losses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1326801/000132680114000047/exhibit991auditedwhatsappi.htm|title=Exhibit 99.1 AuditedWhatsAppIncFY13|website=www.sec.gov|accessdate=May 6, 2023}}</ref> | |||
=== 2014–2015 === | |||
On February 19, 2014, one year after a venture capital financing round at a $1.5 billion valuation,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/02/21/whatsapp/|title=WhatsApp Was Valued At ~$1.5B In Final Round Before Sale|last=Tsotsis|first=Alexia|date=February 22, 2014|website=[[TechCrunch]]|access-date=February 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222044523/http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/21/whatsapp/|archive-date=February 22, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Facebook, Inc. (now [[Meta Platforms]]) announced it was acquiring WhatsApp for US$19 billion, its largest acquisition to date.<ref name="fb-buyout" /> At the time, it was the largest acquisition of a venture-capital-backed company in history.<ref name="wsj20140220" /> Sequoia Capital received an approximate 5,000% return on its initial investment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.com/whatsapp-investors-make-billions-facebook-acquisition-sequoia-capital-sees-50x-return-13-billion|title=WhatsApp Investors Make Billions From Facebook Acquisition: Sequoia Capital Sees 50x Return on $1.3 Billion Investment|last=Neal|first=Ryan W.|date=February 20, 2014|website=IBTimes.com|access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801124712/https://www.ibtimes.com/whatsapp-investors-make-billions-facebook-acquisition-sequoia-capital-sees-50x-return-13-billion|archive-date=August 1, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Facebook, which was advised by Allen & Co, paid $4 billion in cash, $12 billion in Facebook shares, and, advised by [[Morgan Stanley]], an additional $3 billion in [[restricted stock]] units granted to WhatsApp's founders Koum and Acton.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-20/whatsapp-s-founder-goes-from-food-stamps-to-billionaire.html|title=WhatsApp's Founder Goes From Food Stamps to Billionaire|newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=February 20, 2014 |publisher=Bloomberg News|access-date=February 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220072216/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-20/whatsapp-s-founder-goes-from-food-stamps-to-billionaire.html|archive-date=February 20, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Employee stock was scheduled to vest over four years subsequent to closing.<ref name="fb-buyout" /> Days after the announcement, WhatsApp users experienced a loss of service, leading to anger across social media.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/gaming/461289/Twitter-outrage-as-users-claim-WhatsApp-has-gone-down-days-after-Facebook-purchase|title=Twitter outrage as users claim WhatsApp has gone down days after Facebook purchase|last=Dassanayake|first=Dion|date=February 23, 2014|website=[[Daily Express]]|access-date=February 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608041110/http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/gaming/461289/Twitter-outrage-as-users-claim-WhatsApp-has-gone-down-days-after-Facebook-purchase|archive-date=June 8, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
The acquisition was influenced by the data provided by [[Onavo]], Facebook's research app for monitoring competitors and trending usage of social activities on mobile phones, as well as startups that were performing "unusually well".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-new-copycats-how-facebook-squashes-competition-from-startups-1502293444|title=The New Copycats: How Facebook Squashes Competition From Startups|last1=Morris|first1=Betsy|date=August 9, 2017|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=August 15, 2017|last2=Seetharaman|first2=Deepa|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2017/08/09/new-copycats-how-facebook-squashes-2.html|title=The New Copycats: How Facebook Squashes -2-|date=August 9, 2017|work=Fox Business|access-date=August 15, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2017/08/13/facebook-knew-about-snap-struggles-through-app-tracking/|title=Facebook knew about Snap's struggles months before the public|website=Engadget|access-date=August 15, 2017}}</ref> | |||
The acquisition caused many users to try, or move to, other message services. [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] claimed that it acquired 8 million new users;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/02/24/telegram-saw-8m-downloads-after-whatsapp-got-acquired/|title=Telegram Saw 8M Downloads After WhatsApp Got Acquired|last=Tsotsis|first=Alexia|date=February 25, 2014|website=[[TechCrunch]]|access-date=February 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226134422/http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/24/telegram-saw-8m-downloads-after-whatsapp-got-acquired/|archive-date=February 26, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Line (application)|Line]], 2 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/02/25/line-gets-whatsapp-outage-bump/|title=Line saw 2m new users after the outage of Whatsapp|last=Lomas|first=Natasha|date=February 25, 2014|website=[[TechCrunch]]|access-date=February 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226180212/http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/25/line-gets-whatsapp-outage-bump/|archive-date=February 26, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
At a keynote presentation at the [[Mobile World Congress]] in [[Barcelona]] in February 2014, Facebook CEO [[Mark Zuckerberg]] said that Facebook's acquisition of WhatsApp was closely related to the [[Internet.org]] vision.<ref name="techcrunch-whatsapp-io">{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/02/24/whatsapp-is-actually-worth-more-than-19b-says-facebooks-zuckerberg/|title=WhatsApp Is Actually Worth More Than $19B, Says Facebook's Zuckerberg, And It Was Internet.org That Sealed The Deal|last=Lunden|first=Ingrid|date=February 24, 2014|website=[[TechCrunch]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225004524/http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/24/whatsapp-is-actually-worth-more-than-19b-says-facebooks-zuckerberg/|archive-date=February 25, 2014|access-date=February 24, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/web/mark-zuckerberg-whatsapp-is-worth-more-than-19-billion-1227925|title=Mark Zuckerberg: WhatsApp is worth more than $19 billion|last=Fitzsimmons|first=Michelle|date=February 24, 2014|website=[[TechRadar]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227234130/http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/web/mark-zuckerberg-whatsapp-is-worth-more-than-19-billion-1227925|archive-date=February 27, 2014|access-date=February 24, 2014}}</ref> A ''[[TechCrunch]]'' article said about Zuckerberg's vision:<blockquote>The idea, he said, is to develop a group of basic internet services that would be free of charge to use – "a 911 for the internet". These could be a social networking service like Facebook, a messaging service, maybe search and other things like weather. Providing a bundle of these free of charge to users will work like a gateway drug of sorts – users who may be able to afford data services and phones these days just don't see the point of why they would pay for those data services. This would give them some context for why they are important, and that will lead them to pay for more services like this – or so the hope goes.<ref name=techcrunch-whatsapp-io /></blockquote> | |||
Three days after announcing the Facebook purchase, Koum said they were working to introduce voice calls. He also said that new mobile phones would be sold in Germany with the WhatsApp brand, and that their ultimate goal was to be on all [[smartphone]]s.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.expansion.com/2014/02/24/empresas/digitech/1393246645.html|title=WhatsApp permitirá llamadas de voz|date=February 24, 2014|work=[[Expansión (Spanish newspaper)|Expansión]]|access-date=July 2, 2014|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714230237/http://www.expansion.com/2014/02/24/empresas/digitech/1393246645.html|archive-date=July 14, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In August 2014, WhatsApp was the most popular messaging app in the world, with more than 600 million users.<ref name="Parmy Olsen">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2014/08/25/whatsapp-hits-600-million-active-users-founder-says/|title=WhatsApp Hits 600 Million Active Users, Founder Says|last=Olsen|first=Parmy|date=August 25, 2014|website=[[Forbes]]|access-date=October 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929193100/http://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2014/08/25/whatsapp-hits-600-million-active-users-founder-says/|archive-date=September 29, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> By early January 2015, WhatsApp had 700 million monthly users and over 30 billion messages every day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.in/WhatsApps-Insane-Growth-Continues-100-Million-New-Users-in-4-Months/articleshow/45786867.cms|title=WhatsApp's Insane Growth Continues: 100 Million New Users in 4 Months|last=Kim|first=Eugene|date=January 7, 2015|website=[[Business Insider]]|access-date=January 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110040710/http://www.businessinsider.in/WhatsApps-Insane-Growth-Continues-100-Million-New-Users-in-4-Months/articleshow/45786867.cms|archive-date=January 10, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2015, ''[[Forbes]]'' predicted that between 2012 and 2018, the telecommunications industry would lose $386 billion because of [[Over-the-top media service|"over-the-top"]] services like WhatsApp and [[Skype]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2015/04/07/facebooks-whatsapp-voice-calling/?linkId=13374701|title=Facebook's Phone Company: WhatsApp Goes To The Next Level With Its Voice Calling Service|first=Parmy|last=Olsen|work=[[Forbes]]|date=April 7, 2015|access-date=April 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019081118/https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2015/04/07/facebooks-whatsapp-voice-calling/?linkId=13374701|archive-date=October 19, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> That month, WhatsApp had over 800 million users.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-DGB-41359|title=WhatsApp Hits 800 Million Users — 1 Billion by Year-End?|last=Seetharaman|first=Deepa|date=April 17, 2015|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|publisher=[[Dow Jones & Company]]|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20171018165539/https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/04/17/whatsapp-hits-800000-users-1-billion-by-year-end/|archive-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=April 18, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/whatsapp-touts-800m-monthly-active-users/|title=WhatsApp touts 800M monthly active users|first=Nate|last=Ralph|publisher=CNET|date=April 18, 2015|access-date=April 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419212616/http://www.cnet.com/news/whatsapp-touts-800m-monthly-active-users/|archive-date=April 19, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> By September 2015, it had grown to 900 million;<ref name="usatoday.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/09/04/whatsapp-facebook-900-million-mark-zuckerberg-jan-koum-messenger/71704760/|title=Facebook's WhatsApp hits 900 million users, aims for 1 billion|work=USA Today|first=Jessica|last=Guynn|date=September 4, 2015|access-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018162226/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/09/04/whatsapp-facebook-900-million-mark-zuckerberg-jan-koum-messenger/71704760/|archive-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and by February 2016, one billion.<ref name="Statt-2016-02-01">{{cite web|last=Statt|first=Nick|title=WhatsApp has grown to 1 billion users|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/2/1/10889534/whats-app-1-billion-users-facebook-mark-zuckerberg|website=The Verge|publisher=[[Vox Media, Inc.]]|access-date=April 6, 2016|date=February 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413090531/http://www.theverge.com/2016/2/1/10889534/whats-app-1-billion-users-facebook-mark-zuckerberg|archive-date=April 13, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
On November 30, 2015, the [[Android (operating system)|Android]] WhatsApp client made links to [[Telegram (messaging service)|messaging service Telegram]] unclickable and uncopyable.<ref name="techcrunch-re-Telegram">{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/12/01/whatsapp-is-blocking-links-to-rival-app-telegram-on-android/|title=WhatsApp Is Blocking Links To Rival App Telegram On Android|last=Lomas|first=Natasha|date=December 1, 2015|work=[[TechCrunch]]|access-date=December 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151206124316/http://techcrunch.com/2015/12/01/whatsapp-is-blocking-links-to-rival-app-telegram-on-android/|archive-date=December 6, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="verge-re-Telegram">{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/11/30/9819460/whatsapp-telegram-link-block-copy-paste|title=WhatsApp is blocking links to a competing messenger app|last=Brandom|first=Russell|date=November 30, 2015|work=[[The Verge]]|access-date=December 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208020939/http://www.theverge.com/2015/11/30/9819460/whatsapp-telegram-link-block-copy-paste|archive-date=December 8, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="TelegramAndroidPolice">{{cite web|url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2016/09/09/whatsapp-is-blocking-telegram-links-in-the-android-app/|title=[Update: Smoking Gun] WhatsApp Is Blocking Telegram Links In Its Android App|last=Lobao|first=Martim|date=December 1, 2015|work=Android Police|access-date=December 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909182414/http://www.androidpolice.com/2016/09/09/whatsapp-is-blocking-telegram-links-in-the-android-app/|archive-date=September 9, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Multiple sources confirmed that it was intentional, not a bug,<ref name="TelegramAndroidPolice" /> and that it had been implemented when the Android [[source code]] that recognized Telegram URLs had been identified.<ref name="TelegramAndroidPolice" /> (The word "telegram" appeared in WhatsApp's code.<ref name="TelegramAndroidPolice" />) Some considered it an anti-competitive measure;<ref name="techcrunch-re-Telegram" /><ref name="verge-re-Telegram" /><ref name="TelegramAndroidPolice" /> WhatsApp offered no explanation. | |||
=== 2016–2019 === | |||
On January 18, 2016, WhatsApp's co-founder Jan Koum announced that it would no longer charge users a $1 annual subscription fee, in an effort to remove a barrier faced by users without [[payment card]]s.<ref name="Fried-18-January-2016 b">{{cite web|url=https://www.recode.net/2016/1/18/11588896/facebook-owned-whatsapp-to-drop-subscription-fees-for-its-popular|title=Facebook's Whatsapp is Now Free|first1=Ina|last1=Fried|date=January 18, 2016|website=Re Code|publisher=[[Vox Media, Inc.]]|access-date=January 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519195620/http://www.recode.net/2016/1/18/11588896/facebook-owned-whatsapp-to-drop-subscription-fees-for-its-popular|archive-date=May 19, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="wsj-18-January-2016 2">{{Cite news|title=Whatsapp to Drop Subscription Fee|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/whatsapp-to-drop-subscription-fee-1453115467|journal=Wall Street Journal|access-date=January 18, 2016|date=January 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118142257/http://www.wsj.com/articles/whatsapp-to-drop-subscription-fee-1453115467|archive-date=January 18, 2016|url-status=dead|last=Drozdiak|first=Natalia}}</ref> He also said that the app would not display any third-party ads, and that it would have new features such as the ability to communicate with businesses.<ref name="Statt-2016-02-01"/><ref name="Phonearena-18-January-2016">{{cite web|url=https://www.phonearena.com/news/Finally-Whatsapp-removes-1-annual-subscription-fee_id77505|title=Finally! Whatsapp removes $1 annual subscription fee|date=January 18, 2016|website=Phonearena.com|publisher=Phone Arena|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801094427/https://www.phonearena.com/news/Finally-Whatsapp-removes-1-annual-subscription-fee_id77505|archive-date=August 1, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
On May 18, 2017, the [[European Commission]] announced that it was fining [[Facebook]] €110 million for "providing misleading information about WhatsApp takeover" in 2014. The Commission said that in 2014 when Facebook acquired the messaging app, it "falsely claimed it was technically impossible to automatically combine user information from Facebook and WhatsApp." However, in the summer of 2016, WhatsApp had begun sharing user information with its parent company, allowing information such as phone numbers to be used for targeted Facebook advertisements. Facebook acknowledged the breach, but said the errors in their 2014 filings were "not intentional".<ref name="EU-commission-fined-fb">{{cite web|title=Facebook fined €110m by European Commission over WhatsApp deal|url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/files/document/print/en/ip_17_1369/IP_17_1369_EN.pdf|publisher=European Commission|access-date=August 1, 2020|date=May 18, 2017}}</ref> | |||
In September 2017, WhatsApp's co-founder Brian Acton left the company to start a nonprofit group,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Russell|first=Jon|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/13/whatsapp-co-founder-brian-acton-is-leaving-to-start-a-non-profit/|title=WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton is leaving to start a non-profit|work=TechCrunch|date=September 13, 2017|access-date=October 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016135421/https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/13/whatsapp-co-founder-brian-acton-is-leaving-to-start-a-non-profit/|archive-date=October 16, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> later revealed as the [[Signal Foundation]], which developed the WhatsApp competitor [[Signal (software)|Signal]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Greenberg|first=Andy|title=WhatsApp Co-Founder Puts $50M Into Signal To Supercharge Encrypted Messaging|url=https://www.wired.com/story/signal-foundation-whatsapp-brian-acton/|magazine=Wired|publisher=Condé Nast|access-date=October 18, 2018|date=February 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915050519/https://www.wired.com/story/signal-foundation-whatsapp-brian-acton/|archive-date=September 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> He explained his reasons for leaving in an interview with Forbes a year later.<ref>{{Cite interview |title=Exclusive: WhatsApp Cofounder Brian Acton Gives The Inside Story On #DeleteFacebook And Why He Left $850 Million Behind |last=Acton |first=Brian |interviewer=Parmy Olson |website=Forbes |date=September 26, 2018 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2018/09/26/exclusive-whatsapp-cofounder-brian-acton-gives-the-inside-story-on-deletefacebook-and-why-he-left-850-million-behind/}}</ref> WhatsApp also announced a forthcoming business platform to enable companies to provide customer service at scale,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/10000633/Building-for-People-and-Now-Businesses|title=Building for People, and Now Businesses|website=whatsapp.com|access-date=September 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908180722/http://blog.whatsapp.com/10000633/Building-for-People-and-Now-Businesses|archive-date=September 8, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and airlines [[KLM]] and [[Aeroméxico]] announced their participation in the testing.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.phocuswire.com/KLM-claims-airline-first-with-WhatsApp-Business-Platform |title=KLM claims airline first with WhatsApp Business Platform |first=Marisa |last=Garcia |work=Phocuswire |date=September 5, 2017 |access-date=January 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205211831/https://www.phocuswire.com/KLM-claims-airline-first-with-WhatsApp-Business-Platform |archive-date=February 5, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com.mx/aeromexico-te-respondera-por-whatsapp-durante-2018/|title=Aeroméxico te atenderá por WhatsApp durante 2018|date=October 26, 2017|website=[[Forbes|Forbes México]]|language=es|access-date=March 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702180522/https://www.forbes.com.mx/aeromexico-te-respondera-por-whatsapp-durante-2018/|archive-date=July 2, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com.mx/2017/10/27/podras-hacer-check-in-y-consultar-tu-vuelo-con-aeromexico-a-traves-de-whatsapp_a_23258181/|title=Podrás hacer 'check in' y consultar tu vuelo con Aeroméxico a través de WhatsApp|journal=Huffington Post|last=Redacción|date=October 27, 2017|access-date=March 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310135702/https://www.huffingtonpost.com.mx/2017/10/27/podras-hacer-check-in-y-consultar-tu-vuelo-con-aeromexico-a-traves-de-whatsapp_a_23258181/|archive-date=March 10, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="whatsapp.com1">{{cite web|url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/10000633/Building-for-People-and-Now-Businesses|title=Building for People, and Now Businesses|date=September 5, 2017|website=WhatsApp Blog|access-date=March 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209031529/https://blog.whatsapp.com/10000633/Building-for-People-and-Now-Businesses|archive-date=February 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Both airlines had previously launched customer services on the [[Facebook Messenger]] platform. | |||
In January 2018, WhatsApp launched WhatsApp Business for small business use.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/19/16908810/whatsapp-business-app-launch-small-businesses|title=WhatsApp launches a separate app for small businesses|last=Ong|first=Thuy|date=January 19, 2018|work=[[The Verge]]|access-date=January 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119113437/https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/19/16908810/whatsapp-business-app-launch-small-businesses|archive-date=January 19, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In April 2018, WhatsApp co-founder and CEO Jan Koum announced he would be leaving the company.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dwoskin|first=Elizabeth|title=WhatsApp founder plans to leave after broad clashes with parent Facebook|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/whatsapp-founder-plans-to-leave-after-broad-clashes-with-parent-facebook/2018/04/30/49448dd2-4ca9-11e8-84a0-458a1aa9ac0a_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 18, 2018|date=April 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930064717/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/whatsapp-founder-plans-to-leave-after-broad-clashes-with-parent-facebook/2018/04/30/49448dd2-4ca9-11e8-84a0-458a1aa9ac0a_story.html|archive-date=September 30, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> By leaving before November 2018, due to concerns about privacy, advertising, and monetization by Facebook,<ref>{{Cite web |title=WhatsApp founder, Brian Acton, says Facebook used him to get its acquisition past EU regulators |first=Natasha |last=Lomas |website=TechCrunch |date=September 26, 2018 |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/26/whatsapp-founder-brian-acton-says-facebook-used-him-to-get-its-acquisition-past-eu-regulators/}}</ref> Acton and Koum gave up $1.3 billion in unvested stock options.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WhatsApp founders Jan Koum and Brian Acton, desperate to quit Facebook, reportedly left $1.3 billion in stock options behind |last=Stangel |first=Luke |work=Silicon Valley Business Journal |date=June 6, 2018 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2018/06/06/whatsapp-koum-acton-quit-facebook-disagreement.html}}</ref> Facebook later announced that Koum's replacement would be Chris Daniels.<ref name="Wagner-2018-5-8">{{cite news|last=Wagner|first=Kurt|title=WhatsApp has a new boss: Chris Daniels, the guy who's been running Internet.org|url=https://www.recode.net/2018/5/8/17329524/whatsapp-new-ceo-facebook-cofounder-jan-koum-departs|access-date=October 18, 2018|work=Recode|publisher=Vox Media|date=May 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018161836/https://www.recode.net/2018/5/8/17329524/whatsapp-new-ceo-facebook-cofounder-jan-koum-departs|archive-date=October 18, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
On November 25, 2019, WhatsApp announced an investment of $250,000 through a partnership with Startup India to provide 500 startups with Facebook ad credits of $500 each.<ref>{{Cite news|date=November 25, 2019|title=Whatsapp to support Indian startups through ad credits|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/newsbuzz/whatsapp-to-support-indian-startups-through-ad-credits/articleshow/72222458.cms|access-date=January 7, 2020|newspaper=The Economic Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109120624/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/newsbuzz/whatsapp-to-support-indian-startups-through-ad-credits/articleshow/72222458.cms|archive-date=January 9, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In December 2019, WhatsApp announced that a new update would lock out any Apple users who hadn't updated to iOS 9 or higher and Samsung, Huawei, Sony and Google users who hadn't updated to version 4.0 by February 1, 2020. The company also reported that [[Windows Phone]] operating systems would no longer be supported after December 31, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/whatsapp-latest-version-android-iphone-update-ios-not-working-a9240286.html|title=WhatsApp is about to stop working on millions of phones|date=December 10, 2019|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=December 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212031112/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/whatsapp-latest-version-android-iphone-update-ios-not-working-a9240286.html|archive-date=December 12, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> WhatsApp was announced to be the 3rd most downloaded [[mobile phone app]] of the decade 2010–2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://9to5mac.com/2019/12/16/apps-and-games-of-the-decade/|title=These were the most-downloaded apps and games of the decade|last=Miller|first=Chance|date=December 17, 2019|website=9to5Mac|language=en-US|access-date=December 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217130013/https://9to5mac.com/2019/12/16/apps-and-games-of-the-decade/|archive-date=December 17, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
=== Since 2020 === | |||
In March, WhatsApp partnered with the [[World Health Organization]] and [[UNICEF]] to provide messaging hotlines for people to get information on the [[COVID-19 pandemic|2019–2020 coronavirus pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=WhatsApp unveils $1M grant, info hub to fight coronavirus rumors|url=https://social.techcrunch.com/2020/03/18/whatsapp-unveils-1m-grant-and-info-hub-to-fight-coronavirus-rumors/|last=Singh|first=Manish|date=March 18, 2020|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US|access-date=May 11, 2020|archive-date=December 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214094532/https://social.techcrunch.com/2020/03/18/whatsapp-unveils-1m-grant-and-info-hub-to-fight-coronavirus-rumors/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the same month WhatsApp began testing a feature to help users find out more information and context about information they receive to help combat misinformation.<ref name=SearchTheWeb>{{Cite web|title=WhatsApp tests new feature to fight misinformation: Search the web|url=https://social.techcrunch.com/2020/03/21/whatsapp-search-web-coronavirus/|last=Singh|first=Manish|date=March 21, 2020|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US|access-date=May 11, 2020|archive-date=December 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214213331/https://social.techcrunch.com/2020/03/21/whatsapp-search-web-coronavirus/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/959164027834664/?locale=en_US |title=How to do an internet search on forwarded WhatsApp messages | WhatsApp Help Center}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/search-the-web |title=Search the Web}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.livemint.com/technology/apps/whatsapp-new-search-the-web-feature-how-it-works-11596531975628.html |title=WhatsApp new 'Search the web' feature: How it works |date=August 4, 202}}</ref> | |||
In January 2021, WhatsApp announced a controversial new Privacy Policy allowing WhatsApp to share data with its parent company, Facebook; users who did not accept by February 8, 2021, would lose access to the app. This lead many users to ditch WhatsApp and move to other services such as [[Signal (software)]] and [[Telegram (software)]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/heres-why-whatsapp-users-are-fleeing-for-other-platforms |title=WhatsApp users are increasingly moving to other platforms |date=January 18, 2021}}</ref> However, Facebook said the WhatsApp policy would not apply in the EU, since it violates the principles of [[GDPR]].<ref name=":2">{{cite web|title=WhatsApp Will Delete Your Account If You Don't Agree Sharing Data With Facebook|url=https://thehackernews.com/2021/01/whatsapp-will-delete-your-account-if.html|access-date=January 6, 2021|website=The Hacker News|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{cite web|title=Mandatory WhatsApp Privacy Policy Update Allows User Data to be Shared With Facebook|url=https://www.macrumors.com/2021/01/06/whatsapp-privacy-policy-data-sharing-facebook/|access-date=January 6, 2021|website=MacRumors|date=January 6, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Facing criticism, WhatsApp postponed the update to May 15, 2021,<ref name="Kharpal">{{Cite web|last=Kharpal|first=Arjun|date=January 18, 2021|title=WhatsApp delays privacy update over user 'confusion' and backlash about Facebook data sharing|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/18/whatsapp-delays-privacy-update-amid-facebook-data-sharing-confusion.html|access-date=January 18, 2021|publisher=CNBC|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=January 24, 2021|title=WhatsApp loses millions of users after terms update|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jan/24/whatsapp-loses-millions-of-users-after-terms-update|access-date=January 25, 2021|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> but said they had no plans to limit functionality of users, nor nag users who did not approve the new terms.<ref name="effective_date">{{cite web |url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/security-and-privacy/what-happens-when-our-terms-and-privacy-policy-updates-take-effect/ |title=About the effective date |website=whatsapp.com |accessdate=November 17, 2021}}</ref> | |||
On October 4, 2021, [[Facebook]] had its [[2021 Facebook outage|worst outage since 2008]], which also affected other platforms owned by Facebook, such as [[Instagram]] and WhatsApp.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Subin|first=Samantha|date=October 4, 2021|title=Facebook is suffering its worst outage since 2008|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/04/facebook-instagram-and-whatsapp-are-down.html|url-status=live|access-date=October 4, 2021|publisher=[[CNBC]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=October 4, 2021|title=Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram suffer worldwide outage|work=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://apnews.com/article/facebook-whatsapp-instagram-outage-8b9d3862ed957029e545182a595fdce1|access-date=October 4, 2021}}</ref> | |||
In August 2022, WhatsApp launched an integration with [[JioMart]], available only to users in India. Local users can text special numbers in the app to launch an in-app shopping process, where they can order groceries.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pierce |first1=David |title=WhatsApp's super app ambitions are starting to come true in India |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/29/23326687/whatsapp-jiomart-india-super-app-grocery-shopping |website=The Verge |date=August 29, 2022 |access-date=August 29, 2022}}</ref> | |||
== Features == | |||
In November 2010, a slate of improvements for the iOS version of WhatsApp were released: including the ability to search for messages in your chat history, trimming long videos to a sendable size, the ability to cancel media messages as they upload or download, and previewing photos before sending them.<ref name="Sending Places and Group Icons">{{Cite web |title=Sending Places and Group Icons |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/sending-places-and-group-icons |access-date=May 26, 2023 |website=WhatsApp.com |language=en}}</ref> | |||
In March 2012, WhatsApp improved its location-sharing function, allowing users to share not only their location, but also the location of places, such as restaurants or hotels.<ref name="Sending Places and Group Icons" /> | |||
In August 2013, WhatsApp added voice messages to their apps, giving users a way to send short audio recordings directly in their chats.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Introducing Voice Messages |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/introducing-voice-messages |access-date=May 26, 2023 |website=WhatsApp.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Olivarez-Giles |first=Nathan |date=August 6, 2013 |title=WhatsApp adds voice messaging as it hits 300 million monthly active users |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/8/6/4595496/whatsapp-300-million-active-users-voice-messaging-update |access-date=May 26, 2023 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
In January 2015, WhatsApp launched a web client that allowed users to scan a QR code with their mobile app, mirroring their chats to their browser. The web client was not standalone, and required the user's phone to stay on and connected to the internet. It was also not available for iOS users on launch, due to limitations from Apple.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brandom |first=Russell |date=January 21, 2015 |title=WhatsApp launches a web client for Chrome and Android |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/1/21/7867529/whatsapp-is-coming-to-the-web |access-date=May 26, 2023 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=WhatsApp Web |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/whats-app-web |access-date=May 26, 2023 |website=WhatsApp.com |language=en}}</ref> | |||
[[Voice call]]s between two accounts were added to the app in March and April 2015.<ref>[https://www.theverge.com/2015/3/31/8318821/whatsapp-voice-calls-android-ios WhatsApp finally adds voice calls for all Android users, iOS coming soon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612154645/https://www.theverge.com/2015/3/31/8318821/whatsapp-voice-calls-android-ios|date=June 12, 2020}} – James Vincent, The Verge, March 31, 2015</ref> By June 2016, the company's blog reported more than 100 million voice calls per day were being placed on WhatsApp.<ref>{{cite web |last=Perez |first=Sarah |date=June 24, 2016 |title=WhatsApp hits 100 million calls per day |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/24/whatsapp-hits-100-million-calls-per-day/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625162117/https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/24/whatsapp-hits-100-million-calls-per-day/ |archive-date=June 25, 2016 |access-date=June 24, 2016 |website=[[TechCrunch]]}}</ref> | |||
On November 10, 2016, WhatsApp launched a beta version of [[two-factor authentication]] for Android users, which allowed them to use their email addresses for further protection.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 11, 2016 |title=WhatsApp brings Two-step verification for Android 'beta' users: How to enable |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/social/whatsapp-two-step-verification-for-android-beta-users-how-to-enable-4369792/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111194130/http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/social/whatsapp-two-step-verification-for-android-beta-users-how-to-enable-4369792/ |archive-date=November 11, 2016 |access-date=November 11, 2016}}</ref> Also in November 2016, Facebook ceased collecting WhatsApp data for advertising in Europe.<ref name="EU-commission-fined-fb" /> Later that month, [[video call]]s between two accounts were introduced.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2016/11/15/whatsapp-video-calling-launches/#11d6a88ce456 WhatsApp Is Now Rolling Out Video Calling For iPhone, Android And Windows Phone] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612132618/https://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2016/11/15/whatsapp-video-calling-launches/#11d6a88ce456|date=June 12, 2020}} – Amit Chowdhry, November 15, 2016</ref> | |||
On February 24, 2017, (WhatsApp's 8th birthday), WhatsApp launched a new Status feature similar to [[Snapchat]] and Facebook stories.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 24, 2017 |title=WhatsApp Status: What is This New Snapchat-Like Feature? |url=http://www.news18.com/news/tech/whatsapp-status-what-is-this-new-snapchat-like-feature-1352784.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225134524/http://www.news18.com/news/tech/whatsapp-status-what-is-this-new-snapchat-like-feature-1352784.html |archive-date=February 25, 2017 |access-date=February 24, 2017}}</ref> | |||
Later in September 2018, WhatsApp introduced group audio and video call features.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chowdhry |first=Amit |title=WhatsApp's Group Audio And Video Calling Features Arrive On iPhone And Android |language=en |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2018/07/31/whatsapp-group-calling/#3373ecfc736e |url-status=live |access-date=September 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920161731/https://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2018/07/31/whatsapp-group-calling/#3373ecfc736e |archive-date=September 20, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 21, 2018 |title=WhatsApp group video call feature finally rolls out; step by step guide for beginners |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/whatsapp-group-video-call-feature-guide-for-beginners/story/279377.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920161112/https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/whatsapp-group-video-call-feature-guide-for-beginners/story/279377.html |archive-date=September 20, 2018 |access-date=September 20, 2018 |website=businesstoday.in}}</ref> In October, the "Swipe to Reply" option was added to the Android beta version, 16 months after it was introduced for iOS.<ref>{{cite news |last=Singh |first=Jagmeet |date=October 3, 2018 |title=WhatsApp for Android Gets 'Swipe to Reply' Gesture Support; Ability to Download External Sticker Packs Tipped |publisher=[[NDTV]] |url=https://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/whatsapp-android-new-feature-swipe-to-reply-gesture-download-stickers-1926026 |url-status=live |access-date=October 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007223306/https://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/whatsapp-android-new-feature-swipe-to-reply-gesture-download-stickers-1926026 |archive-date=October 7, 2018}}</ref> | |||
On October 25, 2018, WhatsApp announced support for Stickers. But unlike other platforms WhatsApp requires third-party apps to add Stickers to WhatsApp.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 25, 2018 |title=Introducing Stickers |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/introducing-stickers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611222555/https://blog.whatsapp.com/introducing-stickers |archive-date=June 11, 2020 |access-date=June 22, 2020}}</ref> | |||
In early 2020, WhatsApp launched its "dark mode" for iPhone and Android devices – a new design consisting of a darker palette.<ref>{{Cite web |last=March 2020 |first=Cat Ellis 04 |title=How to get WhatsApp dark mode |url=https://www.techradar.com/how-to/whatsapp-dark-mode |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307162445/https://www.techradar.com/how-to/whatsapp-dark-mode |archive-date=March 7, 2020 |access-date=March 4, 2020 |website=TechRadar |language=en}}</ref> | |||
In October 2020, WhatsApp rolled out a feature allowing users to mute both individuals and group chats forever. The mute options are "8 hours", "1 week", and "Always". The "Always" option replaced the "1 year" option that was originally part of the settings.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 2020 |title=Whatsapp on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/WhatsApp/status/1319461499354509313 |access-date=October 23, 2020 |language=en |via=Twitter}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=New feature |first=(October 23, 2020) |date=October 24, 2020 |title=You can now mute a WhatsApp chat forever |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/you-can-now-mute-a-whatsapp-chat-forever-6851637/ |website=The Indian Express}}</ref> | |||
In March 2021, WhatsApp started rolling out support for third-party animated stickers, initially in Iran, Brazil and Indonesia,<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 1, 2021 |title=Rolling out possibility to import animated sticker packs |url=https://github.com/WhatsApp/stickers/wiki/Animated-Stickers/520afc928cc0b1a5f7609ad7e6b30fe954825339 |access-date=March 26, 2020 |website=[[GitHub]]}}</ref> then worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 2, 2021 |title=Animated stickers enabled worldwide |url=https://github.com/WhatsApp/stickers/wiki/Animated-Stickers/2479ea37e92b1af27292d4d57e470fa42f8d659d |access-date=March 26, 2020 |publisher=[[GitHub]]}}</ref> | |||
In July 2021, WhatsApp announced forthcoming support for sending uncompressed images and videos in 3 options: Auto, Best Quality and Data Saver,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Jon |date=July 9, 2021 |title=WhatsApp will let you send images and videos in their 'best quality' |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/9/22569744/whatsapp-image-video-compression-quality-updates |access-date=July 11, 2021 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref> and end-to-end encryption for backups stored in Facebook's cloud.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lawler |first=Richard |date=July 16, 2021 |title=WhatsApp tests encrypted cloud backups on Android |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/16/22580800/icloud-google-drive-encrypted-whatsapp-cloud-backup |access-date=July 17, 2021 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref> The company was also testing multi-device support, allowing Computer users to run WhatsApp without an active phone session.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lawler |first=Richard |date=July 14, 2021 |title=WhatsApp multi-device beta allows four devices at once even without a phone |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/14/22577594/whatsapp-multi-device-e2e-facebook |access-date=July 18, 2021 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref> | |||
WhatsApp has the facility to hide users' online status ("Last Seen"). In December 2021, WhatsApp changed the default setting from "everyone" to only people in the user's contacts or who have been conversed with ("nobody" is also an option).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=December 13, 2021 |title=WhatsApp will hide your 'last seen' status from strangers by default |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/13/22832943/whatsapp-privacy-last-seen-status |url-status=live |access-date=December 14, 2021 |website=The Verge}}</ref> | |||
In April 2022, WhatsApp announced undated plans to roll out a Communities feature allowing several group chats to exist in a shared space, getting unified notifications and opening up smaller discussion groups. The company also announced plans to implement reactions, the ability for administrators to delete messages in groups and voice calls up to 32 participants.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 14, 2022 |title=WhatsApp announces long-awaited Reactions and Community features |url=https://9to5mac.com/2022/04/14/whatsapp-announces-long-awaited-reactions-and-community-features/ |access-date=April 16, 2022 |website=9to5Mac |language=en}}</ref> | |||
In May 2022, the file upload limit was raised from 100 MB to 2 GB, and maximum group size increased to 512 members.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 7, 2022 |title=WhatsApp gets 2GB file sharing, 512 people groups |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2355558/whatsapp-gets-2gb-file-sharing-512-people-groups |access-date=May 8, 2022 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref> | |||
In April 2023, the app rolled out a feature that would allow account access across multiple phones, in a shift that would make it more like competitors. Messages would still be end-to-end encrypted.<ref>{{Cite news |title=WhatsApp just added this long-requested feature |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/04/25/whatsapp-multiple-phones/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> | |||
In May 2023, WhatsApp allowed users to edit messages, aligning itself with competitors such as Telegram and Signal which already offered this feature. According to the company, messages could be edited within a 15-minute window after being sent. Edited messages were tagged as "edited" to inform recipients that the content had been modified.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 23, 2023 |title=WhatsApp to allow users to edit messages within 15 minutes |language=en-GB |agency=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65679356 |access-date=May 23, 2023}}</ref> WhatsApp has rolled out a feature called 'Voice Status Updates', which allows users to record voice notes and share them as their status on the app.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 31, 2023 |title=WhatsApp will now let you share voice status, here's how to post one|work=[[Business Standard|business-standard]] |url=https://www.business-standard.com/technology/apps/whatsapp-will-now-let-you-share-voice-status-here-s-how-to-post-one-123053100420_1.html}}</ref> | |||
In June 2023, a feature called WhatsApp Channels was launched which allows content creators, public figures and organizations to send newsletter-like broadcasts to large numbers of users. Unlike messages in groups or private chats, channels are not end-to-end encrypted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pierce |first=David |date=2023-06-08 |title=WhatsApp's new Channels feature brings social media to your messaging app |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/8/23753404/whatsapp-channels-broadcasts-app |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref> Channels were initially only available to users in Colombia and Singapore.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Ivan |date=2023-06-08 |title=WhatsApp launches Channels feature for broadcast messages |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/06/08/whatsapp-launches-channels-feature-for-broadcast-messages/ |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-08 |title=Meta introduces broadcast tool Channels on WhatsApp |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/meta-introduces-broadcast-tool-channels-whatsapp-2023-06-08/ |access-date=2023-06-08}}</ref> | |||
== Platform support == | |||
===Platform history=== | |||
After months at beta stage, the official first release of WhatsApp for iOS launched in November 2009. In January 2010, support for BlackBerry smartphones was added; and subsequently for [[Symbian]] OS in May 2010, and for Android OS in August 2010. In August 2011, a beta for [[Nokia]]'s non-smartphone OS [[Series 40]] was added. A month later, support for [[Windows Phone]] was added, followed by [[BlackBerry 10]] in March 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.getspool.com/145/download-free-whatsapp-messenger-blackberry/|title=WhatsApp messenger for BlackBerry – Free Download|work=GetSpool – Jailbreak Tweaks, iOS News|date=May 22, 2015|access-date=June 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625053511/http://blog.getspool.com/145/download-free-whatsapp-messenger-blackberry/|archive-date=June 25, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2015, support for Samsung's [[Tizen]] OS was added.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tizenexperts.com/2015/04/application-new-native-whatsapp-clients-hits-the-tizen-store-goodbye-acl-whatsapp-messenger/|title=[Application] NEW Native WhatsApp clients hits the Tizen Store, Goodbye ACL WhatsApp Messenger|author=Ash|date=April 9, 2015|work=Tizen Experts|access-date=October 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009163325/http://www.tizenexperts.com/2015/04/application-new-native-whatsapp-clients-hits-the-tizen-store-goodbye-acl-whatsapp-messenger/|archive-date=October 9, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> The oldest device capable of running WhatsApp was the Symbian-based [[Nokia N95]] released in March 2007, but support was later discontinued. | |||
In August 2014, WhatsApp released an update, adding support for [[Android Wear]] smartwatches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2358851/whatsapp-update-adds-support-for-android-wear-smartwatches|title=Whatsapp update adds support for Android Wear smartwatches|last=Page|first=Carly|date=August 5, 2014|work=[[The Inquirer]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811045417/http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2358851/whatsapp-update-adds-support-for-android-wear-smartwatches|archive-date=August 11, 2014|url-status=unfit}}</ref> | |||
On January 21, 2015, WhatsApp launched WhatsApp Web, a browser-based web client that could be used by syncing with a mobile device's connection.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/614/WhatsApp-Web|title=WhatsApp Web|date=January 21, 2015|website=WhatsApp Blog|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122061225/http://blog.whatsapp.com/614/WhatsApp-Web|archive-date=January 22, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
On February 26, 2016, WhatsApp announced they would cease support for BlackBerry (including BlackBerry 10), Nokia Series 40, and Symbian S60,<ref name="Litchfield">{{cite web |last1=Litchfield |first1=Steve |title=Whatsapp to stop working on Symbian at the end of 2016 |url=https://www.allaboutsymbian.com/flow/item/21554_Whatsapp_to_stop_working_on_Sy.php |website=All About Windows Phone |publisher=All About Symbian |access-date=November 12, 2021 |date=July 11, 2016}}</ref><ref name="GSMArenaKalo">{{cite web |last1=Kaloyan |title=WhatsApp drops support for Symbian, app to stop working on Dec 31 |url=https://m.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_drops_support_for_symbian_app_to_stop_working_on_dec_31-blog-19328.php |website=GSMArena |publisher=GSMArena.com |access-date=November 12, 2021 |date=July 11, 2016}}</ref> as well as older versions of [[Android Froyo|Android (2.2)]], [[Windows Phone 7|Windows Phone (7.0)]], and [[IOS 6|iOS (6)]], by the end of 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/10000617/WhatsApp-support-for-mobile-devices|title=WhatsApp support for mobile devices|date=February 26, 2016|website=WhatsApp Blog|access-date=July 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204613/http://blog.whatsapp.com/10000617/WhatsApp-support-for-mobile-devices|archive-date=March 3, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> BlackBerry, Nokia Series 40, and Symbian support was then extended to June 30, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whatsapp.com/faq/en/general/26000006|title=WhatsApp support for mobile devices|website=WhatsApp Blog|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231080210/https://www.whatsapp.com/faq/en/general/26000006|archive-date=December 31, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2017, support for BlackBerry and Series 40 was once again extended until the end of 2017, while Symbian was dropped.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nokiapoweruser.com/whatsapp-extends-nokia-s40-blackberry-support-till-end-2017-drops-symbian-support/|title=WhatsApp extends Nokia S40, BlackBerry support till end of 2017, drops Symbian support|date=June 16, 2017|website=Nokiapoweruser|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801094246/https://nokiapoweruser.com/whatsapp-extends-nokia-s40-blackberry-support-till-end-2017-drops-symbian-support/|archive-date=August 1, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
Support for BlackBerry and older (version 8.0) Windows Phone and older (version 6) iOS devices was dropped on January 1, 2018, but was extended to December 2018 for Nokia Series 40.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/en/android/26000006/|title=WhatsApp FAQ – Support for older operating systems|website=whatsapp.com|access-date=August 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803225338/https://faq.whatsapp.com/en/android/26000006/|archive-date=August 3, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2018, it was announced that WhatsApp would soon be available for [[KaiOS]] feature phones.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/986492/WhatsApp-update-Nokia-8810-download|title=The WhatsApp news we have been waiting for will transform these popular phones|first=David|last=Snelling|date=July 11, 2018|access-date=August 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803223845/https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/986492/WhatsApp-update-Nokia-8810-download|archive-date=August 3, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://nokiamob.net/2018/07/05/kaios-officially-getting-whatsapp/|title=*Update* KaiOS officially getting Whatsapp|date=July 5, 2018|access-date=August 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803194854/http://nokiamob.net/2018/07/05/kaios-officially-getting-whatsapp/|archive-date=August 3, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In October 2019, WhatsApp officially launched a new fingerprint app-locking feature for Android users.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WhatsApp Brings Fingerprint Lock Feature to Android, Months After iPhone|url=https://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/whatsapp-fingerprint-lock-android-ios-iphone-user-privacy-2125391|access-date=September 16, 2020|website=NDTV Gadgets 360|date=October 31, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> | |||
In August 2021, WhatsApp launched a feature that allows chat history to be transferred between mobile operating systems. This was implemented only on Samsung phones, with plans to expand to Android and iOS "soon".<ref>{{Cite web|title=WhatsApp gains the ability to transfer chat history between mobile operating systems|url=https://social.techcrunch.com/2021/08/11/whatsapp-gains-the-ability-to-transfer-chat-history-between-mobile-operating-systems/|access-date=August 12, 2021|website=TechCrunch|date=August 11, 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
WhatsApp officially rolled out the Companion mode for Android users, allowing you to link up to five Android phones to a single account. Now, the feature is also made available to iOS users, allowing them to link up to four iPhones.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WhatsApp rolls out Companion mode for iOS, you can link up to four iPhones|url=https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_rolls_out_companion_mode_for_ios_you_can_link_up_to_4_iphones-news-58722.php|date=May 30, 2023|website=gsmarena.com}}</ref> | |||
===Android and iPhone=== | |||
WhatsApp's principal platforms, which are fully supported, are devices supporting mobile telephony running Android, and iPhones.<ref name=iphone /> | |||
=== WhatsApp Web === | |||
WhatsApp was officially made available for PCs through a web client, under the name WhatsApp Web,<ref>{{cite news|first=Ben |last=Woods|title=WhatsApp finally launches on the Web|url=https://thenextweb.com/apps/2015/01/21/whatsapp-finally-launches-web/|access-date=March 16, 2021|work=The Next Web|date=January 21, 2015}}</ref> in late January 2015 through an announcement made by Koum on his Facebook page: "Our web client is simply an extension of your phone: the web browser mirrors conversations and messages from your mobile device—this means all of your messages still live on your phone". As of January 21, 2015, the desktop version was only available to Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone users. Later on, it also added support for iOS, Nokia Series 40, and Nokia S60 (Symbian).<ref>{{cite news|first1=Kashmira|last1=Gander|title=WhatsApp web: messaging client now available on internet browsers|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/whatsapp-now-available-on-web-browsers-9993675.html|access-date=January 23, 2015|work=The Independent|date=January 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122121804/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/whatsapp-now-available-on-web-browsers-9993675.html|archive-date=January 22, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Tweedie|first=Steven|title=WhatsApp Is Now Accessible On The Web, But iPhone Users Are Out Of Luck|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-set-up-whatsapp-web-browser-version-2015-1|website=Business Insider|access-date=February 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204080223/http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-set-up-whatsapp-web-browser-version-2015-1|archive-date=February 4, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Previously the WhatsApp user's handset had to be connected to the Internet for the browser application to function but as of an update in October 2021 that is no longer the case.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WhatsApp Help Center - About linked devices|url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/download-and-installation/about-linked-devices/?lang=en|access-date=November 5, 2021|website=whatsapp.com|language=en}}</ref> All major desktop browsers are supported except for [[Internet Explorer]]. WhatsApp Web's user interface is based on the default Android one and can be accessed through web.whatsapp.com. Access is granted after the users scan their personal [[QR code]] through their mobile WhatsApp application. | |||
There are similar solutions for macOS, such as the open-source ''ChitChat'',<!-- do not link to [[ChitChat]], that is a different app --> previously known as ''WhatsMac''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/stonesam92/ChitChat/|title=Chit Chat A Mac app wrapper around WhatsApp's web client|author=stonesam92|date=October 2, 2018|website=[[GitHub]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160726035049/https://github.com/stonesam92/ChitChat|archive-date=July 26, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://osxdaily.com/2015/05/25/whatsapp-for-mac-whatsmac-app/|title=WhatsApp for Mac|date=May 25, 2015|website=OSXDaily|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411184504/http://osxdaily.com/2015/05/25/whatsapp-for-mac-whatsmac-app/|archive-date=April 11, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/54316/chitchat|title=ChitChat for Mac|date=October 5, 2015|website=MacUpdate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018160325/https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/54316/chitchat|archive-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In January 2021, the limited Android beta version allowed users to use WhatsApp Web without having to keep the mobile app connected to the Internet. In March 2021, this beta feature was extended to iOS users.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wabetainfo.com/whatsapp-messenger-beta-for-ios-2-21-60-11-whats-new/ |title=WhatsApp Messenger beta for iOS 2.21.60.11: what's new? |date=March 19, 2021 |access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref> However, linked devices (using WhatsApp Web, WhatsApp Desktop or [[Facebook Portal]]) will become disconnected if people don't use their phone for over 14 days.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/download-and-installation/about-multi-device-beta/?lang=en|title=WhatsApp Help Center - About multi-device beta|website=whatsapp.com}}</ref> The multi-device beta can only show messages for the last 3 months on the web version, which was not the case without the beta because the web version was syncing with the phone.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://beebom.com/how-use-whatsapp-multiple-devices/|title=How to Use WhatsApp on Multiple Devices|date=July 16, 2021}}</ref> | |||
Since April 2022, the multi-device beta is integrated by default in WhatsApp and users cannot check old messages on the web version anymore.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/web/chats/about-message-history-on-linked-devices/?lang=en|title=WhatsApp Help Center - About message history on linked devices|website=whatsapp.com}}</ref><ref>Archive link showing the end of beta in April 2022 with a redirect in the FAQ page: {{cite web|url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/download-and-installation/about-multi-device-beta/|title=About linked devices|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405090019/https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/download-and-installation/about-multi-device-beta/ |archive-date=April 5, 2022}}</ref> | |||
=== Windows and Mac === | |||
On May 10, 2016, the messaging service was introduced for both Microsoft Windows and [[macOS]] operating systems. Support for video and voice calls from desktop clients was later added. Similar to the WhatsApp Web format, the app, which synchronises with a user's mobile device, is available for download on the website. It supports operating systems [[Windows 8]] and [[OS X Yosemite|OS X 10.10]] and higher.<ref name="WAWOS 2">{{cite web|url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/10000621/Introducing-WhatsApps-desktop-app|date=May 10, 2016|website=WhatsApp Blog|access-date=May 11, 2016|title=Introducing WhatsApp's desktop app|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511113236/https://blog.whatsapp.com/10000621/Introducing-WhatsApps-desktop-app|archive-date=May 11, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thenextweb.com/apps/2016/05/11/whatsapp-desktop-app-windows-mac/|title=WhatsApp now has an official desktop app for Windows and Mac|last=Swanner|first=Nate|date=May 11, 2016|website=The Next Web|access-date=May 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511005125/http://thenextweb.com/apps/2016/05/11/whatsapp-desktop-app-windows-mac/|archive-date=May 11, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://apps.apple.com/us/app/whatsapp-desktop/id1147396723?mt=12|title=WhatsApp Desktop on the Mac App Store|access-date=December 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103163538/https://apps.apple.com/us/app/whatsapp-desktop/id1147396723?mt=12|archive-date=January 3, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
=== iPad not supported=== | |||
iPad users searching for WhatsApp are shown numerous third-party clients. Several top results have names and logos resembling WhatsApp itself, and some users do not realize they are using a third-party client. Per WhatsApp's policy, using third-party clients can result in the account getting permanently banned.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cultofmac.com/314343/use-a-third-party-whatsapp-client-and-you-could-be-banned-for-life/|title=Use a third-party WhatsApp client and you could be banned for life|date=March 5, 2015|access-date=March 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321211547/https://www.cultofmac.com/314343/use-a-third-party-whatsapp-client-and-you-could-be-banned-for-life/|archive-date=March 21, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
{{As of|2023}}, WhatsApp does not have an official iPad client.<ref name=iphone>{{cite web|url=https://apps.apple.com/us/app/whatsapp-messenger/id310633997|title=WhatsApp Messenger|access-date=March 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321210951/https://apps.apple.com/us/app/whatsapp-messenger/id310633997|archive-date=March 21, 2020|url-status=live|quote=Compatibility: iPhone, iOS 12.0 or later}}</ref> In a 2022 interview with ''[[The Verge]]'', WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart acknowledged that "[p]eople have wanted an iPad app for a long time" and said that the team would "love to do it."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heath |first=Alex |date=January 28, 2022 |title=Head of WhatsApp on releasing an iPad app: 'We'd love to do it' |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/28/22906747/whatsapp-ipad-app-release |access-date=September 18, 2022 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
== Technical == | |||
WhatsApp uses a customized version of the open standard [[Extensible messaging and presence protocol|Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol]] (XMPP).<ref>{{cite web|place=[[Germany|DE]]|author=Shakal|url=http://shakal.blog.de/2011/03/22/whatsapp-risiken-10872342/|title=WhatsApp? Nicht ohne Risiken|trans-title=WhatsApp? Not without risks|date=March 22, 2011|access-date=January 29, 2013|type=[[World Wide Web]] log|language=de|format=[[Google Translate]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626111834/http://shakal.blog.de/2011/03/22/whatsapp-risiken-10872342/|archive-date=June 26, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}.</ref> Upon installation, it creates a user account using the user's phone number as the username ([[Jabber.org|Jabber]] ID: <code>[phone number]@s.whatsapp.net</code>). | |||
WhatsApp software automatically compares all the phone numbers from the device's address book with its central database of WhatsApp users to automatically add contacts to the user's WhatsApp contact list. Previously the Android and Nokia Series 40 versions used an [[MD5]]-hashed, reversed-version of the phone's [[International Mobile Equipment Identity|IMEI]] as password,<ref name="GitHub venomous0x">{{cite web|url=https://github.com/venomous0x/WhatsAPI|title=Interface to WhatsApp Messenger|author=Team Venomous (venomous0x)|date=September 29, 2018|publisher=[[GitHub]]|type=blog|access-date=January 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526120342/https://github.com/venomous0x/WhatsAPI|archive-date=May 26, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> while the iOS version used the phone's Wi-Fi [[MAC address]] instead of IMEI.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ezioamodio.it/?p=29|title=Whatsapp – iOS password generation|last=Amodio|first=Ezio|date=September 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129050300/http://www.ezioamodio.it/?p=29|archive-date=January 29, 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=January 29, 2013|place=[[Italy|IT]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://samgranger.com/whatsapp-is-using-imei-numbers-as-passwords/|title=WhatsApp is using IMEI numbers as passwords|last=Granger|first=Sam|date=September 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911002603/http://samgranger.com/whatsapp-is-using-imei-numbers-as-passwords/|archive-date=September 11, 2012|access-date=January 29, 2013}}</ref> A 2012 update implemented generation of a random password on the server side.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wassapp login issues|url=http://lowlevel-studios.com/wassapp-login-issues|publisher=Lowlevel Studios|type=blog|quote=Wassapp is a PC application developed to be a non-official client for WhatsApp Messenger|date=December 11, 2012|access-date=January 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121220094529/http://lowlevel-studios.com/wassapp-login-issues|archive-date=December 20, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Alternatively a user can send to any contact in the WhatsApp database through the url <code><nowiki>https://api.whatsapp.com/send/?phone=[phone number]</nowiki></code> where <code>[phone number]</code> is the number of the contact including the country code. | |||
Some devices using [[dual SIM]]s may not be compatible with WhatsApp, though there are unofficial workarounds to install the app.<ref>{{cite web|first=Kelechi|last=Emenike |place=NG |title=Download WhatsApp on non-compatible Dual-SIM Phones|url=http://echo.com.ng/2013/howto-download-whatsapp-dual-sim-nokia-phones/|publisher=ECHO|type=blog |date=September 16, 2013|access-date=September 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026045419/http://echo.com.ng/2013/howto-download-whatsapp-dual-sim-nokia-phones/ |archive-date=October 26, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
In February 2015, WhatsApp implemented [[voice calling]], which helped WhatsApp to attract a different segment of the user population.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chowdhry|first=Amit|title=WhatsApp For iOS Will Receive Voice Calling Feature In A Few Weeks|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2015/03/26/whatsapp-calling-ios/#2e779d5321fe|website=Forbes|access-date=October 9, 2017|date=March 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009145427/https://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2015/03/26/whatsapp-calling-ios/#2e779d5321fe|archive-date=October 9, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Perez|first=Sarah|title=WhatsApp Voice-Calling Feature Spotted In The Wild|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/02/02/whatsapp-voice-calling-feature-spotted-in-the-wild/|website=TechCrunch|access-date=October 9, 2017|date=February 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019041954/https://techcrunch.com/2015/02/02/whatsapp-voice-calling-feature-spotted-in-the-wild/|archive-date=October 19, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> WhatsApp's [[voice codec]] is [[Opus (audio format)|Opus]],<ref name="Register">{{cite news |last1=Leyden |first1=John |title=WhatsApp laid bare: Info-sucking app's innards probed |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/10/27/whatsapp_forensic_analysis/ |access-date=October 19, 2019 |work=[[The Register]] |date=October 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019111806/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/10/27/whatsapp_forensic_analysis/ |archive-date=October 19, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Hazra">{{cite book |last1=Hazra |first1=Sudip |last2=Mateti |first2=Prabhaker |chapter=Challenges in Android Forensics |editor-last1=Thampi |editor-first1=Sabu M. |editor-last2=Pérez |editor-first2=Gregorio Martínez |editor-last3=Westphall |editor-first3=Carlos Becker |editor-last4=Hu |editor-first4=Jiankun |editor-last5=Fan |editor-first5=Chun I. |editor-last6=Mármol |editor-first6=Félix Gómez |title=Security in Computing and Communications: 5th International Symposium, SSCC 2017 |date=September 13–16, 2017 |publisher=Springer |isbn=9789811068980 |pages=286–299 (290) |doi=10.1007/978-981-10-6898-0_24 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1u09DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA290}}</ref><ref name="Srivastava">{{cite book |last1=Srivastava |first1=Saurabh Ranjan |last2=Dube |first2=Sachin |last3=Shrivastaya |first3=Gulshan |last4=Sharma |first4=Kavita |chapter=Smartphone Triggered Security Challenges: Issues, Case Studies and Prevention |journal=Cyber Security in Parallel and Distributed Computing |editor-last1=Le |editor-first1=Dac-Nhuong |editor-last2=Kumar |editor-first2=Raghvendra |editor-last3=Mishra |editor-first3=Brojo Kishore |editor-last4=Chatterjee |editor-first4=Jyotir Moy |editor-last5=Khari |editor-first5=Manju |title=Cyber Security in Parallel and Distributed Computing: Concepts, Techniques, Applications and Case Studies |date=2019 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=9781119488057 |pages=187–206 (200) |doi=10.1002/9781119488330.ch12 |s2cid=214034702 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FzGtDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA200}}</ref> which uses the [[modified discrete cosine transform]] (MDCT) and [[linear predictive coding]] (LPC) [[audio compression (data)|audio compression]] algorithms.<ref>{{cite conference |last1=Valin |first1=Jean-Marc |last2=Maxwell |first2=Gregory |last3=Terriberry |first3=Timothy B. |last4=Vos |first4=Koen |title=High-Quality, Low-Delay Music Coding in the Opus Codec |conference=135th AES Convention |publisher=[[Audio Engineering Society]] |date=October 2013 |arxiv=1602.04845}}</ref> WhatsApp uses Opus at 8{{ndash}}16 [[kHz]] [[sampling rate]]s.<ref name="Register" /><ref name="Srivastava" /> On November 14, 2016, WhatsApp [[video calling]] for users using Android, iPhone, and Windows Phone devices.<ref>{{cite web|title=Whatsapp Video Calling|url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/10000629/WhatsApp-Video-Calling?l=en|type=blog|date=November 14, 2016|access-date=November 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118172200/https://blog.whatsapp.com/10000629/WhatsApp-Video-Calling?l=en|archive-date=November 18, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Whatsapp Video Calling|journal=The Economic Times|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/whatsapp-rolls-out-video-calling-from-its-biggest-market-india/articleshow/55431148.cms|type=News|date=November 15, 2016|access-date=November 18, 2016|last=Alawadhi|first=Neha|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119000540/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/whatsapp-rolls-out-video-calling-from-its-biggest-market-india/articleshow/55431148.cms|archive-date=November 19, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In November 2017, WhatsApp implemented a feature giving users seven minutes to delete messages sent by mistake.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://smattgeeksmedia.com/news/whatsapp-delete-messages-sent-by-mistake/|title=WhatsApp Now Lets You Delete Messages Sent by Mistake|date=November 1, 2017|work=Smatt Geeks Media|access-date=March 8, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308232538/https://smattgeeksmedia.com/news/whatsapp-delete-messages-sent-by-mistake/|archive-date=March 8, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Multimedia messages are sent by uploading the image, audio or video to be sent to an [[HTTP server]] and then sending a [[Hyperlink|link]] to the content along with its [[Base64|Base64 encoded]] thumbnail, if applicable.<ref>{{cite web|author=Team Venomous (venomous0x)|title=WhatsAPI / README.md|date=November 28, 2012|url=https://github.com/venomous0x/WhatsAPI/blob/master/README.md|publisher=[[GitHub]]|type=blog|orig-year=May 29, 2012|access-date=January 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622220422/https://github.com/venomous0x/WhatsAPI/blob/master/README.md|archive-date=June 22, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
WhatsApp uses a "[[store and forward]]" mechanism for exchanging messages between two users. When a user sends a message, it is stored on a WhatsApp server, which tries to forward it to the addressee, and repeatedly requests acknowledgement of receipt. When the message is acknowledged, the server deletes it; if undelivered after 30 days, it is also deleted.<ref>{{cite web|first=Gaurav|last=Rathee|title=How WhatsApp Works|date=June 25, 2015|url=http://digitalperiod.com/explore-whatsapp-clock-sign-and-tick/|type=blog|orig-year=June 25, 2015|access-date=June 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630212039/http://digitalperiod.com/explore-whatsapp-clock-sign-and-tick/|archive-date=June 30, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>{{self-published inline|date=October 2015}} | |||
=== End-to-end encryption === | |||
On November 18, 2014, [[Open Whisper Systems]] announced a partnership with WhatsApp to provide [[end-to-end encryption]] by incorporating the encryption protocol used in Signal into each WhatsApp client platform.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/11/18/end-to-end-for-everyone/|title=WhatsApp Partners With Open WhisperSystems To End-To-End Encrypt Billions Of Messages A Day|last=Evans|first=Jon|date=November 18, 2014|website=[[TechCrunch]]|access-date=November 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141118220338/http://techcrunch.com/2014/11/18/end-to-end-for-everyone/|archive-date=November 18, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Open Whisper Systems said that they had already incorporated the protocol into the latest WhatsApp client for Android, and that support for other clients, group/media messages, and [[Key (cryptography)|key]] verification would be coming soon after.<ref name="whispersystems">{{cite web|url=https://whispersystems.org/blog/whatsapp/|title=Open Whisper Systems partners with WhatsApp to provide end-to-end encryption|date=November 18, 2014|publisher=[[Open Whisper Systems]]|access-date=November 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141118161936/https://www.whispersystems.org/blog/whatsapp/|archive-date=November 18, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> WhatsApp confirmed the partnership to reporters, but there was no announcement or documentation about the encryption feature on the official website, and further requests for comment were declined.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fortune.com/2014/11/18/facebooks-messaging-service-whatsapp-gets-a-security-boost/|title=Facebook's messaging service WhatsApp gets a security boost|last=Snyder|first=Benjamin|date=November 18, 2014|website=[[Forbes]]|access-date=November 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141120193716/http://fortune.com/2014/11/18/facebooks-messaging-service-whatsapp-gets-a-security-boost/|archive-date=November 20, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2015, German magazine ''[[Heise security|Heise Security]]'' used [[ARP spoofing]] to confirm that the protocol had been implemented for Android-to-Android messages, and that WhatsApp messages from or to iPhones running iOS were still not end-to-end encrypted.<ref name="Heise-April-2015" /> They expressed the concern that regular WhatsApp users still could not tell the difference between end-to-end encrypted messages and regular messages.<ref name="Heise-April-2015">{{cite web|url=https://www.heise.de/ct/artikel/Keeping-Tabs-on-WhatsApp-s-Encryption-2630361.html|title=Keeping Tabs on WhatsApp's Encryption|last=Scherschel|first=Fabian A.|date=April 30, 2015|publisher=[[Heise Security]]|access-date=April 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430172636/http://www.heise.de/ct/artikel/Keeping-Tabs-on-WhatsApp-s-Encryption-2630361.html|archive-date=April 30, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
On April 5, 2016, WhatsApp and Open Whisper Systems announced that they had finished adding end-to-end encryption to "every form of communication" on WhatsApp, and that users could now verify each other's keys.<ref name="Metz-2016-04-05"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/04/05/whatsapp-completes-end-to-end-encryption-rollout/|title=WhatsApp completes end-to-end encryption rollout|last=Lomas|first=Natasha|date=April 5, 2016|website=[[TechCrunch]]|access-date=April 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406010346/http://techcrunch.com/2016/04/05/whatsapp-completes-end-to-end-encryption-rollout/|archive-date=April 6, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Users were also given the option to enable a [[trust on first use]] mechanism in order to be notified if a correspondent's key changes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/04/whatsapp-rolls-out-end-end-encryption-its-1bn-users|title=WhatsApp Rolls Out End-To-End Encryption to its Over One Billion Users|last=Budington|first=Bill|date=April 7, 2016|website=Deeplinks Blog|publisher=[[Electronic Frontier Foundation]]|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912010025/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/04/whatsapp-rolls-out-end-end-encryption-its-1bn-users|archive-date=September 12, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> According to a [[white paper]] that was released along with the announcement, WhatsApp messages are encrypted with the [[Signal Protocol]].<ref name="white-paper">{{cite web|title=WhatsApp Encryption Overview – Technical white paper|url=https://www.whatsapp.com/security/WhatsApp-Security-Whitepaper.pdf|publisher=WhatsApp Inc.|access-date=April 5, 2016|date=April 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405210216/https://www.whatsapp.com/security/WhatsApp-Security-Whitepaper.pdf|archive-date=April 5, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> WhatsApp calls are encrypted with [[Secure Real-time Transport Protocol|SRTP]], and all client-server communications are "layered within a separate encrypted channel".<ref name="white-paper" /> | |||
On October 14, 2021, WhatsApp rolled out end-to-end encryption for backups on Android and iOS. The feature has to be turned on by the user and provides the option to encrypt the backup either with a password or a 64-digit encryption key.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/14/22726803/facebook-whatsapp-end-to-end-encrypted-backups |last=Peters |first=Jay |title=Facebook starts rolling out end-to-end encrypted backups to WhatsApp |date=October 14, 2021 |website=The Verge |access-date=October 14, 2021}}</ref> | |||
The application can store encrypted copies of the chat messages onto the SD card, but chat messages are also stored unencrypted in the [[SQLite]] database file "msgstore.db".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stackpointer.io/security/extract-whatsapp-unencrypted-chat-messages/311/|title=How to Extract Unencrypted Whatsapp Chat Messages|date=June 2014}}</ref> | |||
=== WhatsApp Payments === | |||
WhatsApp Payments (marketed as ''WhatsApp Pay'') is a [[peer-to-peer]] money transfer feature. The service became generally available in India and Brazil, and in Singapore for WhatsApp Business transactions only.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Ivan |date=April 11, 2023 |title=WhatsApp users in Brazil can now pay merchants through the app |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/11/whatsapp-users-in-brazil-can-now-pay-merchants-through-the-app/ |access-date=May 16, 2023 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Espósito |first=Filipe |date=May 12, 2023 |title=WhatsApp users in Singapore can now pay merchants directly from the app |url=https://9to5mac.com/2023/05/12/whatsapp-pay-singapore-merchants/ |access-date=May 16, 2023 |website=9to5Mac |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
==== India ==== | |||
In July 2017, WhatsApp received permission from the [[National Payments Corporation of India]] (NPCI) to enter into partnership with multiple Indian banks,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/companies/whatsapp-gets-nod-for-upi-payments-through-multi-bank-partnerships/articleshow/59537607.cms|title=WhatsApp gets nod for UPI payments through multi bank partnerships|last=Mishra|first=Digbijay|date=July 11, 2017|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=July 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712021535/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/companies/whatsapp-gets-nod-for-upi-payments-through-multi-bank-partnerships/articleshow/59537607.cms|archive-date=July 12, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> for transactions over [[Unified Payments Interface]] (UPI),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/whatsapp-gets-nod-for-upi-payments/articleshow/59537161.cms|title=WhatsApp gets nod for UPI payments|last=Mishra|first=Digbijay|date=July 11, 2017|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=July 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712041644/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/whatsapp-gets-nod-for-upi-payments/articleshow/59537161.cms|archive-date=July 12, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> which relies on mobile phone numbers to make account-to-account transfers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/04/03/whatsapp-india-peer-to-peer-payments/|title=WhatsApp will reportedly launch peer-to-peer payments in India within 6 months|last=Russell|first=Jon|date=April 4, 2017|website=[[TechCrunch]]|access-date=July 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706050957/https://techcrunch.com/2017/04/03/whatsapp-india-peer-to-peer-payments/|archive-date=July 6, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2020, UPI payments via WhatsApp were initially restricted to 20 million users,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bhargava |first1=Yuthika |title=WhatsApp payment service goes live in India |url=https://www.thehindu.com/business/payments-on-whatsapp-go-live-in-india/article33037143.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=November 7, 2020 |language=en-IN |date=November 6, 2020}}</ref> and to 100 million users in April 2022,<ref>{{cite web |title=WhatsApp permitted to extend payments service to 100 million users in India |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/04/13/whatsapp-permitted-to-extend-payments-service-to-100-million-users-in-india/ |archive-url=https://archive.is/SwNj0 |date=April 13, 2022 |archive-date=December 3, 2022 |work=TechCrunch |last=Singh |first=Manish}}</ref> and became generally available to everyone in August 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=WhatsApp Pay now available to all users in India |url=https://tech.hindustantimes.com/tech/news/whatsapp-pay-now-available-to-all-users-in-india-71604629561156.html |archive-url=https://archive.is/VZUH1 |date=August 20, 2022 |archive-date=May 12, 2023 |work=Hindustan Times}}</ref> | |||
=== Facebook/WhatsApp cryptocurrency project, 2019–2022=== | |||
{{See also|Diem (digital currency)}} | |||
On February 28, 2019, ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that Facebook was "hoping to succeed where [[Bitcoin]] failed" by developing an in-house [[cryptocurrency]] that would be incorporated into WhatsApp. The project reportedly involved more than 50 engineers under the direction of former [[PayPal]] president [[David A. Marcus]]. This 'Facebook coin' would reportedly be a [[stablecoin]] pegged to the value of a basket of different foreign currencies.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Popper|first1=Nathaniel|last2=Isaac|first2=Mike|title=Facebook and Telegram Are Hoping to Succeed Where Bitcoin Failed|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/28/technology/cryptocurrency-facebook-telegram.html|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=March 5, 2019|date=February 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305190944/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/28/technology/cryptocurrency-facebook-telegram.html|archive-date=March 5, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In June 2019, Facebook said that the project would be named [[Diem (digital currency)|Libra]], and that a [[digital wallet]] named "Calibra" was to be integrated into Facebook and WhatsApp.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Boorstin |first1=Julia |title=Facebook launches a new cryptocurrency called Libra |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/17/facebook-announces-libra-digital-currency-calibra-digital-wallet.html |access-date=April 21, 2021 |publisher=CNBC |date=June 18, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> After financial regulators in many regions raised concerns, Facebook stated that the currency, renamed Diem since December 2020, would require a government-issued ID for verification, and the wallet app would have fraud protection. Calibra was rebranded to Novi in May 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lecher |first1=Colin |title=European regulators are already pressing Facebook about its cryptocurrency |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/18/18683574/facebook-libra-cryptocurrency-regulation-europe-france-germany |access-date=April 22, 2021 |work=The Verge |date=June 18, 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bursztynsky |first1=Jessica |title=Facebook-backed Libra Association has been renamed Diem |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/01/facebook-backed-libra-digital-currency-has-been-renamed-diem.html |access-date=April 21, 2021 |publisher=CNBC |date=December 1, 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bursztynsky |first1=Jessica |title=Facebook renames its service that will let people send Libra digital currency to one another |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/26/facebook-novi-is-new-name-for-libra-digital-wallet.html |access-date=April 21, 2021 |publisher=CNBC |date=May 26, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> | |||
Meta (formerly Facebook) ended its Novi project on September 1, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Novi pilot has ended |url=https://www.facebook.com/help/1388094248345081 |access-date=September 23, 2022 |website=Facebook |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Vanian |first1=Jonathan |title=The last remnant of Facebook's crypto project shuts down September 1 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/01/the-last-remnant-of-facebooks-crypto-project-shuts-down-september-1.html |publisher=CNBC |date=July 1, 2022 |access-date=September 23, 2022}}</ref> | |||
== Controversies and criticism == | |||
=== Misinformation === | |||
WhatsApp has repeatedly imposed limits on message forwarding in response to the spread of misinformation in countries including India and Australia. The measure, first introduced in 2018 to combat spam, was expanded and remained active in 2021. WhatsApp stated that the forwarding limits had helped to curb the spread of [[COVID-19 misinformation|misinformation regarding COVID-19]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/07/19/whatsapp-limits-message-forwarding/|title=WhatsApp limits message forwarding in bid to reduce spam and misinformation |last=Russell |first=Jon |date=July 20, 2018 |work=TechCrunch |access-date=July 26, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/27/21238082/whatsapp-forward-message-limits-viral-misinformation-decline |title=WhatsApp says its forwarding limits have cut the spread of viral messages by 70 percent |last=Porter |first=Jon |date=April 27, 2020 |work=The Verge |access-date=July 26, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jul/24/facebook-forced-to-limit-sydney-lockdown-misinformation-spread-via-whatsapp |title=Facebook forced to limit misinformation spread via WhatsApp amid Sydney lockdown |last=Taylor |first=Josh |date=July 23, 2021 |work=The Guardian |access-date=July 26, 2021}}</ref> | |||
====Murders in India==== | |||
{{Main|Indian WhatsApp lynchings}} | |||
{{See also|WhatsApp University}} | |||
In India, WhatsApp encouraged people to report messages that were fraudulent or incited violence after [[Lynching|lynch mobs]] in India murdered innocent people because of malicious WhatsApp messages falsely accusing the victims of intending to abduct children.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/india-child-kidnap-abduction-video-rumours-killings-1.4737041|title=WhatsApp cracks down on fake content after child-kidnap rumours spark killings across India|last1=Bassi|first1=Simi|date=July 8, 2018|work=[[CBC News]]|last2=Sengupta|first2=Joyita|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709115019/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/india-child-kidnap-abduction-video-rumours-killings-1.4737041|archive-date=July 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> There were a series of incidents between 2017 and 2020, after which WhatsApp announced changes for Indian users of the platform that labels forwarded messages as such.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rahman |first=Shaikh Azizur |date=July 13, 2018 |title='Fake news often goes viral': WhatsApp ads warn India after mob lynchings |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/13/fake-news-whatsapp-ads-india-mob-lynchings |url-status=live |access-date=July 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730170619/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/13/fake-news-whatsapp-ads-india-mob-lynchings |archive-date=July 30, 2018}}</ref> | |||
====2018 elections in Brazil==== | |||
In an investigation on the use of [[social media in politics]], it was found that WhatsApp was being abused for the spread of [[fake news]] in the [[2018 presidential elections in Brazil]].<ref name="The New York Times 2018">{{cite web|title=Opinion – Fake News Is Poisoning Brazilian Politics. WhatsApp Can Stop It.|website=The New York Times|date=October 17, 2018|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/opinion/brazil-election-fake-news-whatsapp.html|access-date=October 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018125853/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/opinion/brazil-election-fake-news-whatsapp.html|archive-date=October 18, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> It was reported that US$3 million was spent in illegal concealed contributions related to this practice.<ref name="Folha de S.Paulo 2018">{{cite web|title=Businessmen Fund WhatsApp Campaign Against PT|website=Folha de S.Paulo|date=October 18, 2018|url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/en/brazil/2018/10/businessmen-fund-whatsapp-campaign-against-pt.shtml|access-date=October 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018201820/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/en/brazil/2018/10/businessmen-fund-whatsapp-campaign-against-pt.shtml|archive-date=October 18, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Researchers and journalists called on WhatsApp's parent company, Facebook, to adopt measures similar to those adopted in India and restrict the spread of hoaxes and fake news.<ref name="The New York Times 2018" /> | |||
=== Security and privacy === | |||
{{Main|Reception and criticism of WhatsApp security and privacy features}} | |||
WhatsApp was initially criticized for its lack of encryption, sending information as [[plaintext]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.yourdailymac.net/2011/05/whatsapp-leaks-usernames-telephone-numbers-and-messages/|title=WhatsApp leaks usernames, telephone numbers and messages {{!}} Your Daily Mac|last=Brookehoven|first=Corey|date=May 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523235136/http://www.yourdailymac.net/2011/05/whatsapp-leaks-usernames-telephone-numbers-and-messages/|archive-date=May 23, 2011|access-date=August 8, 2019}}</ref> Encryption was first added in May 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blogs.itpro.es/miequipoestaloco/whatsapp-ya-cifra-los-mensajes/|title=Whatsapp ya cifra los mensajes|date=May 11, 2012|publisher=IT Pro|trans-title=WhatsApp already encrypts messages|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408070915/http://blogs.itpro.es/miequipoestaloco/whatsapp-ya-cifra-los-mensajes/|archive-date=April 8, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/davidbb/status/199861196365639680|title=preliminary protocol inspection shows that @WhatsApp has turned on some kind of encryption in the latest Android version (2.7.7532)|last=Barrera|first=David|date=May 8, 2012|website=@davidbb|language=en|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007051543/https://twitter.com/davidbb/status/199861196365639680|archive-date=October 7, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|user=ae_g_i_s|number=200579125818298370|title=Oh look. The key to WhatsApp's new encryption is at least a strong random one. Guess how I know? :D|last=ægis|first=|date=May 10, 2012|website=@ae_g_i_s|language=en|access-date=August 8, 2019}}</ref> End-to-end encryption was only fully implemented in April 2016 after a two-year process. {{as of|2021|09}}, it is known that WhatsApp makes extensive use of outside contractors and artificial intelligence systems to examine certain user messages, images and videos (those that have been flagged by users as possibly abusive); and turns over to law enforcement metadata including critical account and location information.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Elkind |first1=Peter |last2=Gillum |first2=Jack |last3=Silverman |first3=Craig |title=How Facebook Undermines Privacy Protections for Its 2 Billion WhatsApp Users |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/how-facebook-undermines-privacy-protections-for-its-2-billion-whatsapp-users |website=ProPublica |language=en |date=September 8, 2021}}</ref> | |||
In 2016, WhatsApp was widely praised for the addition of [[end-to-end encryption]] and earned a 6 out of 7 points on the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation|Electronic Frontier Foundation's]] "Secure Messaging Scorecard".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/03/secure-messaging-more-secure-mess|title=Secure Messaging? More Like A Secure Mess.|last=Portnoy|first=Nate Cardozo, Gennie Gebhart, and Erica|date=March 26, 2018|website=Electronic Frontier Foundation|language=en|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808031200/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/03/secure-messaging-more-secure-mess|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> WhatsApp was criticized by security researchers and the Electronic Frontier Foundation for using backups that are not covered by end-to-end encryption and allow messages to be accessed by third-parties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://slate.com/technology/2018/06/paul-manafort-how-did-fbi-access-whatsapp-messages.html|title=How Did the FBI Access Paul Manafort's Encrypted Messages?|last=Mak|first=Aaron|date=June 5, 2018|website=Slate Magazine|language=en|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712191232/https://slate.com/technology/2018/06/paul-manafort-how-did-fbi-access-whatsapp-messages.html|archive-date=July 12, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/10/where-whatsapp-went-wrong-effs-four-biggest-security-concerns|title=Where WhatsApp Went Wrong: EFF's Four Biggest Security Concerns|last=Gebhart|first=Bill Budington and Gennie|date=October 13, 2016|website=Electronic Frontier Foundation|language=en|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731163459/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/10/where-whatsapp-went-wrong-effs-four-biggest-security-concerns|archive-date=July 31, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In May 2019, a security vulnerability in WhatsApp was found and fixed that allowed a remote person to install spyware by making a call which did not need to be answered.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/update-whatsapp-now-bug-lets-snoopers-put-spyware-on-your-phone-with-just-a-call/|title=Update WhatsApp now: Bug lets snoopers put spyware on your phone with just a call|last=Tung|first=Liam|website=ZDNet|language=en|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607180022/https://www.zdnet.com/article/update-whatsapp-now-bug-lets-snoopers-put-spyware-on-your-phone-with-just-a-call/|archive-date=June 7, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-cyber-whatsapp-nsogroup/whatsapp-sues-israels-nso-for-allegedly-helping-spies-hack-phones-around-the-world-idUSKBN1X82BE|title=WhatsApp sues Israel's NSO for allegedly helping spies hack phones around the world|last=Satter|first=Raphael|newspaper=U.S.|language=en|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029215504/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-cyber-whatsapp-nsogroup/whatsapp-sues-israels-nso-for-allegedly-helping-spies-hack-phones-around-the-world-idUSKBN1X82BE|archive-date=October 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In September 2019, WhatsApp was criticized for its implementation of a 'delete for everyone' feature. iOS users can elect to save media to their camera roll automatically. When a user deletes media for everyone, WhatsApp does not delete images saved in the iOS camera roll and so those users are able to keep the images. WhatsApp released a statement saying that "the feature is working properly," and that images stored in the camera roll cannot be deleted due to Apple's security layers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/09/18/nasty-whatsapp-privacy-surprise-delete-for-everyone-doesnt-delete-for-everyone/|title=WhatsApp Warning For Millions Of iPhone Users As 'Delete For Everyone' Fails To Work|last=Doffman|first=Zak|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=September 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924152633/https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/09/18/nasty-whatsapp-privacy-surprise-delete-for-everyone-doesnt-delete-for-everyone/|archive-date=September 24, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In November 2019, WhatsApp released a new privacy feature that let users decide who can add them to groups.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/whatsapps-new-privacy-feature-lets-users-decide-who-can-add-them-to-groups_in_5dc283d9e4b0f5dcf8fd677f|title=How To Enable New WhatsApp Feature That Lets You Decide Who Can Add You To Groups|date=November 6, 2019|website=HuffPost India|language=en|access-date=November 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201175620/https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/whatsapps-new-privacy-feature-lets-users-decide-who-can-add-them-to-groups_in_5dc283d9e4b0f5dcf8fd677f|archive-date=December 1, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In December 2019, WhatsApp confirmed a security flaw that would allow hackers to use a malicious GIF image file to gain access to the recipient's data. When the recipient opened the gallery within WhatsApp, even if not sending the malicious image, the hack is triggered and the device and its contents become vulnerable. The flaw was patched and users were encouraged to update WhatsApp.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Jordan|last=Valinsky|date=October 7, 2019|title=WhatsApp had a bug that let hackers take over phones with a GIF|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/07/tech/whatsapp-gif-bug-trnd/index.html|access-date=December 21, 2020|website=CNN Digital|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Doffman|first=Zak|title=New WhatsApp Warning: Security Flaw Confirmed—1 Billion Users Told Update Apps Now|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/10/03/new-whatsapp-warning-security-flaw-confirmed1-billion-users-told-update-apps-now/|access-date=December 21, 2020|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Osborne|first=Charlie|title=WhatsApp vulnerability exploited through malicious GIFs to hijack chat sessions|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/whatsapp-vulnerability-exploited-through-malicious-gifs-to-hijack-chat-sessions/|access-date=December 21, 2020|website=ZDNet|language=en}}</ref> | |||
On December 17, 2019, WhatsApp fixed a security flaw that allowed cyber attackers to repeatedly crash the messaging application for all members of group chat, which could only be fixed by forcing the complete uninstall and reinstall of the app.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/12/17/whatsapp-update-warning-as-new-app-killing-message-confirmed-heres-what-you-need-to-know/|title=WhatsApp Update Warning As New 'App Killing' Message Confirmed: Here's What You Need To Know|last=Doffman|first=Zak|website=Forbes |language=en|access-date=April 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503055911/https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/12/17/whatsapp-update-warning-as-new-app-killing-message-confirmed-heres-what-you-need-to-know/|archive-date=May 3, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The bug was discovered by [[Check Point]] in August 2019 and reported to WhatsApp. It was fixed in version 2.19.246 onwards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://research.checkpoint.com/2019/breakingapp-whatsapp-crash-data-loss-bug/|title=BreakingApp – WhatsApp Crash & Data Loss Bug|date=December 17, 2019|website=Check Point Research|language=en-US|access-date=December 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221121530/https://research.checkpoint.com/2019/breakingapp-whatsapp-crash-data-loss-bug/|archive-date=December 21, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mashable.com/article/whatsapp-security-flaw-checkpoint/|title=Crisis averted: WhatsApp fixed a lethal security flaw|last=Kraus|first=Rachel|website=Mashable|date=December 17, 2019|language=en|access-date=December 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221121527/https://mashable.com/article/whatsapp-security-flaw-checkpoint/|archive-date=December 21, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
For security purposes, since February 1, 2020, WhatsApp has been made unavailable on smartphones using legacy operating systems like Android 2.3.7 or older and iPhone iOS 8 or older that are no longer updated by their providers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51329882|title=WhatsApp to stop working on millions of phones|date=January 31, 2020|website=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203071052/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51329882|archive-date=February 3, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In April 2020, the [[NSO Group]] held its governmental clients accountable for the allegation of [[human rights abuses]] by WhatsApp. In its revelation via documents received from court, | |||
the group claimed that the lawsuit brought against the company by WhatsApp threatened to infringe on its clients' "national security and foreign policy concerns". However, the company did not reveal names of the end users, which according to a research by [[Citizen Lab]] include, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/07/nso-group-points-finger-at-state-clients-in-whatsapp-spying-case|title=NSO Group points finger at state clients in WhatsApp spying case|access-date=April 7, 2020|website=The Guardian|date=April 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407181250/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/07/nso-group-points-finger-at-state-clients-in-whatsapp-spying-case|archive-date=April 7, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
On December 16, 2020, a claim that WhatsApp gave [[Google]] access to private messages was included in the anti-trust case against the latter. As the complaint was heavily redacted due to being an ongoing case, it did not disclose whether this was alleged tampering with the app's end-to-end encryption, or Google accessing user backups.{{clarify|date=December 2022}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/17/22180258/google-whatsapp-facebook-data-deal-antitrust-case-debunk|title=Prosecutors say Google accessed private WhatsApp messages — but the evidence is thin|access-date=December 19, 2020|website=The Verge|date=December 17, 2020}}</ref> | |||
In January 2021, WhatsApp announced an update to their Privacy Policy which stated that WhatsApp would share user data with Facebook and its "family of companies" beginning February 2021. Previously, users could opt-out of such data sharing, but the new policy removed this option. The new Privacy Policy would not apply within the EU, as it is illegal under the [[General Data Protection Regulation|GDPR]]. Facebook and WhatsApp were widely criticized for this move.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Goodin|first=Dan|date=January 6, 2021|title=WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using the app|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/01/whatsapp-users-must-share-their-data-with-facebook-or-stop-using-the-app/|access-date=January 7, 2021|website=Ars Technica|language=en-us}}</ref> The enforcement of the privacy policy was postponed from February 8 to May 15, 2021,<ref name="Kharpal"/><ref>{{Cite web|last=Statt|first=Nick|date=January 15, 2021|title=WhatsApp to delay new privacy policy amid mass confusion about Facebook data sharing|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/15/22233257/whatsapp-privacy-policy-update-delayed-three-months|access-date=March 15, 2021|website=The Verge|language=en}}</ref> WhatsApp announced they had no plans to limit the functionality of the app for those who did not approve the new terms. WhatsApp do not limit the app: they simply insist it cannot be used without acceding.<ref name="effective_date" /> | |||
On October 15, 2021, WhatsApp announced that it would begin offering an end-to-end encryption service for chat backups, meaning no third party (including both WhatsApp and the cloud storage vendor) would have access to a user's information. This new encryption feature added an additional layer of protection to chat backups stored either on [[iCloud|Apple iCloud]] or [[Google Drive]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.techradar.com/news/whatsapp-new-encryption-feature-protects-your-chat-history-from-prying-eyes|title=WhatsApp: New encryption feature protects your chat history from prying eyes|website=TechRadar|date=October 15, 2021|first=Joel|last=Khalili|access-date=October 16, 2021}}</ref> | |||
On November 29, 2021, an FBI document was uncovered by [[Rolling Stone]], revealing that WhatsApp responds to warrants and subpoenas from law enforcement within minutes, providing user metadata to the authorities. The metadata includes the user's contact information and address book.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/whatsapp-imessage-facebook-apple-fbi-privacy-1261816/ |title= FBI Document Says the Feds Can Get Your WhatsApp Data — in Real Time |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=November 29, 2021 |last=Kroll |first=Andy |access-date=November 30, 2021}}</ref> | |||
In January 2022, an unsealed surveillance application revealed that WhatsApp started tracking seven users from China and Macau in November 2021, based on a request from US [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] investigators. The app collected data on who the users contacted and how often, and when and how they were using the app. This is reportedly not an isolated occurrence, as federal agencies can use the [[Electronic Communications Privacy Act]] to covertly track users without submitting any probable cause or linking a user's number to their identity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2022/01/17/whatsapp-ordered-to-spy-on-chinese-phones-by-america-no-explanation-given/ |title=WhatsApp Ordered To Help U.S. Agents Spy On Chinese Phones—No Explanation Required |date=January 17, 2021 |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |website=[[Forbes]] |access-date=January 21, 2021}}</ref> | |||
At the beginning of 2022, it was revealed that San Diego-based startup Boldend had developed tools to hack WhatsApp's encryption, gaining access to user data, at some point since the startup's inception in 2017. The vulnerability was reportedly patched in January 2021. Boldend is financed, in part, by [[Peter Thiel]], a notable investor in Facebook.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2022/02/01/billionaire-facebook-investor-peter-thiel-secretly-funded-a-cyber-warfare-startup-that-hacked-whatsapp/ |title=Billionaire Facebook Investor Peter Thiel Secretly Funded A 'Cyber Warfare' Startup That Hacked WhatsApp |date=February 1, 2022 |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |website=[[Forbes]] |access-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref> | |||
In September 2022, a critical security issue in WhatsApp's Android video call feature was reported. An integer overflow bug allowed a malicious user to take full control of the victim's application once a video call between two WhatsApp users was established. The issue was patched on the day it was officially reported.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Page |first1=Carly |title=WhatsApp fixes 'critical' security bug that put Android phone data at risk |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/27/whatsapp-critical-security-bug/ |website=TechCrunch |date=September 27, 2022 |access-date=September 30, 2022}}</ref> | |||
====UK institutions==== | |||
{{As of|2023}} WhatsApp has been widely used by government institutions in the UK, although such use is viewed as problematical, often with the intention of avoiding the scrutiny given to official communications.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} | |||
In 2018, it was reported that around 500,000 [[National Health Service]] (NHS) staff used WhatsApp and other instant messaging systems at work and around 29,000 had faced disciplinary action for doing so. Higher usage was reported by frontline clinical staff to keep up with care needs, even though NHS trust policies do not permit their use.<ref>{{cite news|title=NHS staff disciplined due to reliance on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and other apps|url=http://practicebusiness.co.uk/nhs-staff-disciplined-due-to-reliance-on-whatsapp-facebook-messenger-and-other-apps/|access-date=October 30, 2018|publisher=Practice Business|date=March 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415112327/http://practicebusiness.co.uk/nhs-staff-disciplined-due-to-reliance-on-whatsapp-facebook-messenger-and-other-apps/|archive-date=April 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In several instances when members of Parliament, government ministers, and officials wished to avoid scrutiny, WhatsApp was used despite there being official channels; the [[Information Commissioner's Office|information commissioner]] said that this posed risks for transparency.<ref>{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Tobi |title=Whitehall use of WhatsApp poses transparency risks, says data watchdog |website=The Guardian |date=March 4, 2023 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/mar/04/whatsapp-whitehall-government-transparency-information-commissioner |access-date=March 24, 2023}}</ref> | |||
====Mods and fake versions==== | |||
In March 2019, WhatsApp released a guide for users who had installed unofficial modified versions of WhatsApp and warned that it may ban those using unofficial clients.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/internet/whatsapp-to-ban-users-for-using-fake-apps-mod-apk-unofficial-official-app/story/325675.html|title=WhatsApp to ban users for using fake apps; here's how to migrate back to the official app|website=businesstoday.in|date=March 8, 2019 |access-date=April 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331072408/https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/internet/whatsapp-to-ban-users-for-using-fake-apps-mod-apk-unofficial-official-app/story/325675.html|archive-date=March 31, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
====WhatsApp snooping scandal==== | |||
{{Main|WhatsApp snooping scandal}} | |||
In May 2019, WhatsApp was attacked by hackers who installed [[spyware]] on a number of victims' smartphones.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 14, 2019 |title=WhatsApp Hack Target: I Fear More Victims Are Out There |work=[[Forbes]] |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2019/05/14/whatsapp-hack-target-i-fear-more-victims-are-out-there/#635adb496113 |url-status=live |access-date=May 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514195119/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2019/05/14/whatsapp-hack-target-i-fear-more-victims-are-out-there/#635adb496113 |archive-date=May 14, 2019}}</ref> The hack, allegedly developed by Israeli surveillance technology firm [[NSO Group]], injected [[malware]] onto WhatsApp users' phones via a [[Exploit (computer security)|remote-exploit]] bug in the app's [[Voice over IP]] calling functions. A ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' report noted the attack was able to inject malware via calls to the targeted phone, even if the user did not answer the call.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Newman |first=Lily Hay |date=May 14, 2019 |title=How Hackers Broke WhatsApp With Just a Phone Call |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/story/whatsapp-hack-phone-call-voip-buffer-overflow/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603212738/https://www.wired.com/story/whatsapp-hack-phone-call-voip-buffer-overflow/ |archive-date=June 3, 2019 |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> | |||
On October 29, WhatsApp filed a lawsuit against NSO Group in a [[San Francisco]] court, claiming that the alleged cyberattack violated US laws including the [[Computer Fraud and Abuse Act]] (CFAA).<ref>{{cite web |date=January 16, 2012 |title=WhatsApp sues Israeli firm NSO over cyberespionage |url=https://www.afp.com/en/news/717/whatsapp-sues-israeli-firm-nso-over-cyberespionage-doc-1lu56d1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030011028/https://www.afp.com/en/news/717/whatsapp-sues-israeli-firm-nso-over-cyberespionage-doc-1lu56d1 |archive-date=October 30, 2019 |access-date=October 30, 2019 |website=[[Agence France-Presse]]}}</ref> According to WhatsApp, the exploit "targeted at least 100 human-rights defenders, journalists and other members of civil society" among a total of 1,400 users in 20 countries.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Satter |first1=Raphael |last2=Culliford |first2=Elizabeth |date=October 30, 2019 |title=WhatsApp sues Israel's NSO for allegedly helping spies hack phones around the world |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-cyber-whatsapp-nsogroup-idUSKBN1X82BE |url-status=live |access-date=October 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030011016/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-cyber-whatsapp-nsogroup-idUSKBN1X82BE |archive-date=October 30, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bajak |first=Frank |date=October 29, 2019 |title=Facebook sues Israeli company over WhatsApp spyware |url=https://apnews.com/a7ad0788b9e4498a878009d1a8c5a206 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030005205/https://apnews.com/a7ad0788b9e4498a878009d1a8c5a206 |archive-date=October 30, 2019 |access-date=October 30, 2019 |work=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref name="WashingtonPostWhatsAppPushback2">{{cite news |last1=Cathcart |first1=Will |title=Why WhatsApp is pushing back on NSO Group hacking |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/10/29/why-whatsapp-is-pushing-back-nso-group-hacking/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030001047/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/10/29/why-whatsapp-is-pushing-back-nso-group-hacking/ |archive-date=October 30, 2019 |access-date=October 30, 2019 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> On July 16, 2020, a US federal judge ruled that the lawsuit against NSO group could proceed. NSO Group filed a motion to have the lawsuit dismissed, but the judge denied all of its arguments.<ref>{{cite web |title=Federal court rules WhatsApp and Facebook's malware exploit case against NSO Group can proceed |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/16/federal-court-rules-whatsapp-and-facebooks-malware-exploit-case-against-nso-group-can-proceed/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMLb3OXRfu5KdcKFybALpwyFjb8AFMZ-h6dJJ5_TARK8adpKlXycQmUkH6j2X8BCkS9YXe8r8eeR2CYRy92_a0Kte9iV3cK-8d-DXnPlemjnboOUz2NbkwAzSL3QRdj8-Bu6_V_Mf2Cn9E8IGE4iI2o8HeCC4RSIvC07e9ub69Xk |access-date=July 16, 2020 |website=TechCrunch}}</ref> | |||
In April 2020, the [[NSO Group]] held its governmental clients accountable for the allegation of [[human rights abuses]] by WhatsApp. In its revelation via documents received via court, the group claimed that the lawsuit brought against the company by WhatsApp threatened to infringe on its clients' "national security and foreign policy concerns". However, the company did not reveal the names of the end users, which according to research by [[Citizen Lab]] include, [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Bahrain]], [[Kazakhstan]], [[Morocco]], [[Mexico]] and the [[United Arab Emirates]].<ref>{{cite web |date=April 7, 2020 |title=NSO Group points finger at state clients in WhatsApp spying case |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/07/nso-group-points-finger-at-state-clients-in-whatsapp-spying-case |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407181250/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/07/nso-group-points-finger-at-state-clients-in-whatsapp-spying-case |archive-date=April 7, 2020 |access-date=April 7, 2020 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> | |||
====Jeff Bezos phone hack==== | |||
{{main|Jeff Bezos phone hacking incident}} | |||
In January 2020, a digital forensic analysis revealed that the Amazon founder [[Jeff Bezos]] received an encrypted message on WhatsApp from the official account of [[Saudi Arabia]]'s Crown Prince [[Mohammed bin Salman]]. The message reportedly contained a malicious file, the receipt of which resulted in Bezos' phone being hacked. The [[United Nations]]' special rapporteur [[David Kaye (law professor)|David Kaye]] and [[Agnes Callamard]] later confirmed that Jeff Bezos' phone was hacked through WhatsApp, as he was one of the targets of Saudi's hit list of individuals close to ''[[The Washington Post]]'' journalist [[Jamal Khashoggi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jan/21/amazon-boss-jeff-bezoss-phone-hacked-by-saudi-crown-prince|title=Jeff Bezos hack: Amazon boss's phone 'hacked by Saudi crown prince'|website=The Guardian|date=January 22, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229191904/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jan/21/amazon-boss-jeff-bezoss-phone-hacked-by-saudi-crown-prince|archive-date=February 29, 2020|access-date=January 27, 2020}}</ref> | |||
====FBI==== | |||
In 2021, an FBI document obtained by ''Property of the People, Inc.'', a [[501(c)(3)]] nonprofit organization, through an [[Freedom of Information Act (United States)|FOIA]] request, reveals, that WhatsApp and [[iMessage]] are vulnerable to law-enforcement [[Real-time web|real-time]] searches.<ref name="propertyofthepeople/21114562">{{cite web |title=January 2021 FBI Infographic re Lawful Access to Secure Messaging Apps Data |url=https://propertyofthepeople.org/document-detail/?doc-id=21114562 |website=Property of the People |access-date=October 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827005708mp_/https://propertyofthepeople.org/document-detail/?doc-id=21114562 |archive-date=August 27, 2022 |date=November 19, 2021}}</ref><ref name="jpost/687360">{{cite news |author1=Ben Zion Gad |title=Can the FBI monitor your WhatsApp conversations? |url=https://www.jpost.com/cybertech/authorities-can-track-your-live-whatsapp-info-fbi-document-says-687360 |access-date=October 9, 2022 |work=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |date=November 30, 2021}}</ref><ref name="rollingstone/1261816">{{cite magazine |last1=Kroll |first1=Andy |title=FBI Document Says the Feds Can Get Your WhatsApp Data -- in Real Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/whatsapp-imessage-facebook-apple-fbi-privacy-1261816/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=November 29, 2021}}</ref> | |||
====Tek Fog==== | |||
In January 2022, an investigation by [[The Wire (India)|The Wire]] found that [[BJP]], an Indian political party allegedly used an app called [[Tek Fog]] which was capable of [[Black hat (computer security)|hacking]] inactive WhatsApp accounts en masse in order to mass message their contacts with propaganda. According to the Wire, a whistleblower with app access was able to hack a test WhatsApp account controlled by reporters "within minutes."<ref>{{cite news |title=Tek Fog: An App With BJP Footprints for Cyber Troops to Automate Hate, Manipulate Trends |url=https://thewire.in/tekfog/en/1.html |access-date=January 6, 2022 |work=The Wire |date=January 6, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Monde">{{cite news |title=Tek Fog, un vaste système pour manipuler l'opinion sur les réseaux sociaux en Inde |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2022/01/06/tek-fog-un-vaste-systeme-pour-manipuler-l-opinion-sur-les-reseaux-sociaux-en-inde_6108420_4408996.html |access-date=January 6, 2022 |work=Le Monde.fr |date=January 6, 2022 |language=fr}}</ref> Later, it was revealed to be a [[hoax]] [[news]] story for which [[The Wire (India)|The Wire]] also issued a formal apology to its readers.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Wire Editorial: To Our Readers, an Apology and a Promise |url=https://thewire.in/media/the-wire-editorial-to-our-readers-an-apology-and-a-promise |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=The Wire}}</ref> | |||
=== Terrorism === | |||
In December 2015, it was reported that a terrorists organization [[ISIS]] had been using WhatsApp to plot the [[November 2015 Paris attacks]].<ref name="Perez2017">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/17/politics/paris-attacks-terrorists-encryption/|title=First on CNN: Paris attackers likely used encrypted apps, officials say|last1=Perez|first1=Evan|date=December 17, 2015|work=[[CNN]]|access-date=March 27, 2017|last2=Prokupecz|first2=Shimon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328020524/http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/17/politics/paris-attacks-terrorists-encryption/|archive-date=March 28, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> According to ''[[The Independent]]'', ISIS also uses WhatsApp to traffic sex slaves.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-using-whatsapp-telegram-sell-sex-slaves-iraq-facebook-a7125551.html|title=Isis is using Whatsapp to sell 12 year old sex slaves alongside kittens|last=Agerholm|first=Harriet|date=July 7, 2016|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=March 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117221100/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-using-whatsapp-telegram-sell-sex-slaves-iraq-facebook-a7125551.html|archive-date=January 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In March 2017, British Home Secretary [[Amber Rudd]] said encryption capabilities of messaging tools like WhatsApp are unacceptable, as news reported that Khalid Masood used the application several minutes before perpetrating the [[2017 Westminster attack]]. Rudd publicly called for police and intelligence agencies to be given access to WhatsApp and other encrypted messaging services to prevent future terror attacks.<ref name="Sparrow2017">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/26/intelligence-services-access-whatsapp-amber-rudd-westminster-attack-encrypted-messaging|title=WhatsApp must be accessible to authorities, says Amber Rudd|last=Sparrow|first=Andrew|date=March 26, 2017|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=March 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326234809/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/26/intelligence-services-access-whatsapp-amber-rudd-westminster-attack-encrypted-messaging|archive-date=March 26, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In April 2017, the perpetrator of the [[Stockholm truck attack]] reportedly used WhatsApp to exchange messages with an ISIS supporter shortly before and after the incident. The messages involved discussing how to make an explosive device and a confession to the attack.<ref name="Osborne2017">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/stockholm-attack-rakhmat-akilov-suspect-isis-whatsapp-messages-sweden-lorry-truck-before-after-a7676011.html|title=Stockholm suspect Rakhmat Akilov 'exchanged Whatsapp messages with Isis supporter before and after attack'|last=Osborne|first=Samuel|date=April 10, 2017|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=April 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523113245/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/stockholm-attack-rakhmat-akilov-suspect-isis-whatsapp-messages-sweden-lorry-truck-before-after-a7676011.html|archive-date=May 23, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In April 2017, nearly 300 WhatsApp groups with about 250 members each were reportedly being used to mobilize stone-pelters in [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] to disrupt security forces' operations at encounter sites. According to police, 90% of these groups were closed down after police contacted their admins.<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 24, 2017|title=300 WhatsApp groups used to mobilise stone-pelters in trouble-hit Kashmir: Cop|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/300-whatsapp-groups-used-to-mobilise-stone-pelters-in-trouble-hit-kashmir-cop/story-LCHkmAFAh6FgNGAbfbbgDL.html|access-date=November 9, 2020|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> Further, after a six-month probe which involved the infiltration of 79 WhatsApp groups, the [[National Investigation Agency]] reported that out of about 6386 members and admins of these groups, about 1000 were residents of [[Pakistan]] and gulf nations. Further, for their help in negating anti-terror operations, the Indian stone pelters were getting funded through barter trade from Pakistan and other indirect means.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 5, 2017|title=WhatsApp used to gather stone pelters, many admins abroad: NIA|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/whatsapp-used-to-gather-stone-pelters-many-admins-abroad-nia-4828984/|access-date=November 9, 2020|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> | |||
In May 2022, the FBI stated that an ISIS sympathizer, who was plotting to assassinate [[George W. Bush]], was arrested based on his WhatsApp data. According to the arrest warrant for the suspect, his WhatsApp account was placed under surveillance.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vargas |first1=Ramon Antonio |title=FBI says it foiled Islamic State sympathizer's plot to kill George W Bush |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/24/george-w-bush-assassination-plot-islamic-state-fbi |work=The Guardian |date=May 24, 2022 |access-date=May 25, 2022}}</ref> | |||
=== Scams and malware === | |||
There are numerous ongoing scams on WhatsApp that let hackers spread viruses or malware.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/software/whatsapp-scams-3331146/|title=Most Common WhatsApp Scams|date=June 15, 2018|publisher=techadvisor.co.uk/|access-date=September 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904121145/https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/software/whatsapp-scams-3331146/|archive-date=September 4, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2016, some WhatsApp users were reported to have been tricked into downloading a third-party application called ''WhatsApp Gold'', which was part of a [[scam]] that infected the users' phones with [[malware]].<ref name="Bolton-2016-05-24">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/whatsapp-gold-plus-scam-malware-download-get-message-a7045606.html|title=WhatsApp Gold: Scammers trick mobile phone users into downloading malware|last=Bolton|first=Doug|date=May 24, 2016|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=August 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803112659/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/whatsapp-gold-plus-scam-malware-download-get-message-a7045606.html|archive-date=August 3, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> A message that promises to allow access to their WhatsApp friends' conversations, or their contact lists, has become the most popular hit against anyone who uses the application in Brazil. Clicking on the message actually sends paid text messages. Since December 2016, more than 1.5 million people have clicked and lost money.<ref>{{cite web|url-status=live|url=http://veja.abril.com.br/brasil/novo-golpe-de-whatsapp-atinge-15-milhao-de-vitimas-em-3-meses/|title=Novo golpe de Whatsapp atinge 1,5 milhão de vítimas em 3 meses|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314154116/http://veja.abril.com.br/brasil/novo-golpe-de-whatsapp-atinge-15-milhao-de-vitimas-em-3-meses/|archive-date=March 14, 2017|first=Eduardo F.|last=Filho|date=February 26, 2017}}</ref> | |||
Another application called ''GB WhatsApp'' is considered malicious by [[cybersecurity]] firm [[NortonLifeLock|Symantec]] because it usually performs some unauthorized operations on end-user devices.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.symantec.com/blogs/product-insights/case-study-dangerous-journey-fake-whatsapp-app-onedrive|title=Case Study: The Dangerous Journey of a Fake WhatsApp App on OneDrive|date=March 13, 2018|publisher=[[symantec.com]]|access-date=September 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904121125/https://www.symantec.com/blogs/product-insights/case-study-dangerous-journey-fake-whatsapp-app-onedrive|archive-date=September 4, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
=== Bans === | |||
==== China ==== | |||
WhatsApp is owned by [[Meta Platforms|Meta]], whose main social media service [[Facebook]] has been blocked in China since 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/25/business/china-whatsapp-blocked.html|title=China Blocks WhatsApp, Broadening Online Censorship|last=Bradsher|first=Keith|date=September 25, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=May 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517211402/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/25/business/china-whatsapp-blocked.html|archive-date=May 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2017, security researchers reported to ''The New York Times'' that the WhatsApp service had been completely blocked in [[China]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/18/technology/whatsapp-facebook-china-internet.html|title=China Disrupts WhatsApp Service in Online Clampdown|last=Mozur|first=Paul|date=July 18, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=May 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517175536/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/18/technology/whatsapp-facebook-china-internet.html|archive-date=May 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- {{citation needed span|On November 6, 2019, bans on messages and video calls are lifted, but pictures and voice messages are still not available.|date=November 2019|reason=citation needed}}--><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/269b3de1af34e17c1941a514f78d764c |title=China cuts Uighur births with IUDs, abortion, sterilization |work=[[Associated Press]] |date=June 29, 2020 |access-date=June 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630193503/https://apnews.com/269b3de1af34e17c1941a514f78d764c |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
==== Iran ==== | |||
On May 9, 2014, the government of [[Iran]] announced that it had proposed to block the access to WhatsApp service to Iranian residents. "The reason for this is the assumption of WhatsApp by the Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who is an American Zionist," said Abdolsamad Khorramabadi, head of the country's Committee on Internet Crimes. Subsequently, Iranian president [[Hassan Rouhani]] issued an order to the Ministry of ICT to stop filtering WhatsApp.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2014/05/140506_me_iran_to_block_watsapp.shtml|title=President Hassan Rouhani issued order to 'hold WhatsApp service filteration'|agency=[[BBC Persian]]|access-date=May 27, 2014|language=fa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509204208/http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2014/05/140506_me_iran_to_block_watsapp.shtml|archive-date=May 9, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/05/04/iran-bans-whatsapp-because-link-to-american-zionist-mark-zuckerberg/|title=Iran bans WhatsApp because of link to 'American Zionist' Mark Zuckerberg|author=Daftari, Lisa|date=May 4, 2014|publisher=[[Fox News]]|access-date=May 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514151912/http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/05/04/iran-bans-whatsapp-because-link-to-american-zionist-mark-zuckerberg/|archive-date=May 14, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> It was blocked permanently until Meta answers September 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Iran Threatens To Permanently Block WhatsApp And Instagram |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-block-whatsapp-instagram/32181283.html |access-date=December 29, 2022 |publisher=Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty |language=en|author1=Dpa}}</ref> | |||
==== Turkey ==== | |||
[[Turkey]] temporarily banned WhatsApp in 2016, following the [[Assassination of Andrei Karlov|assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/12/20/turkey-blocks-access-facebook-twitter-whatsapp-following-ambassadors |title=Turkey blocks access to Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp following ambassador's assassination |newspaper=The Telegraph |first=Cara|last=McGoogan |date=December 20, 2016 |access-date=March 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207113636/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/12/20/turkey-blocks-access-facebook-twitter-whatsapp-following-ambassadors/|archive-date=December 7, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
==== Brazil ==== | |||
On March 1, 2016, Diego Dzodan, Facebook's vice-president for Latin America was arrested in Brazil for not cooperating with an investigation in which WhatsApp conversations were requested.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/tec/2016/03/1744973-pf-prende-executivo-do-facebook-por-empresa-nao-liberar-dados-do-whatsapp.shtml|title=PF prende executivo do Facebook por empresa não liberar dados do WhatsApp|publisher=Folha de São Paulo|date=March 1, 2016|language=pt|access-date=March 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302103948/http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/tec/2016/03/1744973-pf-prende-executivo-do-facebook-por-empresa-nao-liberar-dados-do-whatsapp.shtml|archive-date=March 2, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 2, 2016, at dawn the next day, Dzodan was released because the Court of Appeal held that the arrest was disproportionate and unreasonable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://g1.globo.com/sao-paulo/noticia/2016/03/felizes-diz-facebook-sobre-soltura-de-vice-presidente-preso-em-sp.html|title='Felizes', diz Facebook sobre soltura de vice-presidente preso em SP|date=March 2, 2016|access-date=March 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303095857/http://g1.globo.com/sao-paulo/noticia/2016/03/felizes-diz-facebook-sobre-soltura-de-vice-presidente-preso-em-sp.html|archive-date=March 3, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
On May 2, 2016, mobile providers in Brazil were ordered to block WhatsApp for 72 hours for the service's second failure to cooperate with criminal court orders.<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 3, 2016|title=Brazil Judge blocks access to WhatsApp messaging service|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36187028|access-date=August 1, 2020}}</ref> Once again, the block was lifted following an appeal, after less than 24 hours.<ref name="ars-liftedagain">{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/05/brazilian-judge-blocks-whatsapp-for-72-hours-but-it-still-works-over-vpn-wi-fi/|title=Brazilian appellate judge rescinds WhatsApp block|last=Farivar|first=Cyrus|date=May 3, 2016|website=[[Ars Technica]]|access-date=May 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504115056/http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/05/brazilian-judge-blocks-whatsapp-for-72-hours-but-it-still-works-over-vpn-wi-fi/|archive-date=May 4, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Brazil's Central Bank issued an order to [[payment card]] companies [[Visa Inc.|Visa]] and [[Mastercard]] on June 23, 2020, to stop working with WhatsApp on its new electronic payment system. A statement from the Bank asserted the decision to block the Facebook-owned company's latest offering was taken in order to "preserve an adequate competitive environment" in the mobile payments space and to ensure "functioning of a payment system that's interchangeable, fast, secure, transparent, open and cheap."<ref>{{cite news |title=Brazil Suspends WhatsApp's New Payments System |url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/06/23/technology/23reuters-brazil-central-bank-visa-mastercard.html |work=The New York Times |date=June 23, 2020 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626161650/https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/06/23/technology/23reuters-brazil-central-bank-visa-mastercard.html |archive-date=June 26, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Brazil suspends WhatsApp's payments service|url=https://social.techcrunch.com/2020/06/23/brazil-orders-to-suspend-whatsapp-pay-week-after-rollout/|access-date=June 26, 2020|website=TechCrunch|date=June 24, 2020|language=en-US|archive-date=December 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209014521/https://social.techcrunch.com/2020/06/23/brazil-orders-to-suspend-whatsapp-pay-week-after-rollout/|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
==== Uganda ==== | |||
The government of [[Uganda]] banned WhatsApp and Facebook, along with other social media platforms, to enforce a tax on the use of social media.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wccftech.com/uganda-imposes-social-media-tax-whatsapp/|title=Uganda Imposes Daily Social Media Tax to Stop "Gossip" on WhatsApp|last=Shaikh|first=Rafia|date=May 31, 2018|work=Wccftech|access-date=June 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722110112/https://wccftech.com/uganda-imposes-social-media-tax-whatsapp/|archive-date=July 22, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Users are to be charged [[Ugandan shilling|USh.]]200/= per day to access these services according to the new law set by parliament.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-44315675|title=Uganda imposes WhatsApp 'gossip' tax|date=May 31, 2018|agency=[[BBC News]]|access-date=June 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604080431/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-44315675|archive-date=June 4, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
==== United Arab Emirates (UAE) ==== | |||
The [[United Arab Emirates]] banned WhatsApp video chat and VoIP call applications<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/technology/404024-end-uae-ban-on-whatsapp-calls-khalaf-al-habtoor-urges|title=End UAE ban on WhatsApp calls, Khalaf Al Habtoor urges|website=ArabianBusiness.com|language=en|access-date=April 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410172625/https://www.arabianbusiness.com/technology/404024-end-uae-ban-on-whatsapp-calls-khalaf-al-habtoor-urges|archive-date=April 10, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/23/totok-popular-chat-app-spying-tool-uae-government|title=Popular chat app ToTok is actually a spying tool of UAE government – report|date=December 23, 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=April 28, 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611234926/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/23/totok-popular-chat-app-spying-tool-uae-government|archive-date=June 11, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> in as early as 2013<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/skype-whatsapp-face-ban-in-saudi-arabia-report-495231.html|title=Skype, WhatsApp face ban in Saudi Arabia – report|website=ArabianBusiness.com|language=en|access-date=April 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612081022/https://www.arabianbusiness.com/skype-whatsapp-face-ban-in-saudi-arabia-report-495231.html|archive-date=June 12, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> due to what is often reported as an effort to protect the commercial interests of their home grown nationally owned telecom providers ([[du (company)|du]] and [[etisalat by e&|Etisalat]]).<ref name=":1" /> Their app [[ToTok (app)|ToTok]] has received press suggesting it is able to spy on users.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Mazzetti|first1=Mark|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/22/us/politics/totok-app-uae.html|title=It Seemed Like a Popular Chat App. It's Secretly a Spy Tool.|date=December 22, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 28, 2020|last2=Perlroth|first2=Nicole|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|last3=Bergman|first3=Ronen|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501124301/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/22/us/politics/totok-app-uae.html|archive-date=May 1, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
====Cuba==== | |||
In July 2021, the Cuban government blocked access to several social media platforms, including WhatsApp, to curb the spread of information during the [[2021 Cuban protests|anti-government protests]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Cuba's internet cutoff: A go-to tactic to suppress dissent |url=https://apnews.com/article/business-technology-cuba-ca1ae7975e04481e8cbd56d62a7fb30e |access-date=July 14, 2021 |work=Associated Press News |date=July 13, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> | |||
====Switzerland==== | |||
In December 2021, the Swiss army banned the use of WhatsApp and several other non-Swiss encrypted messaging services by army personnel. The ban was prompted by concerns of US authorities potentially accessing user data for such apps because of the [[CLOUD Act]]. The army recommended that all army personnel use [[Threema]] instead, as the service is based in Switzerland.<ref>{{cite web |last=Faife |first=Corin |title=Swiss Army drops WhatsApp for homegrown messaging service, citing privacy concerns |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/7/22871881/swiss-army-whatsapp-messaging-threema-privacy-concerns-us-jurisdiction |access-date=January 7, 2022 |work=The Verge |date=January 7, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> | |||
====Zambia==== | |||
In August 2021, the digital rights organization [[Access Now]] reported that WhatsApp along with several other social media apps was being blocked in [[Zambia]] for the duration of the [[2021 Zambian general election|general election]]. The organization reported a massive drop-off in traffic for the blocked services, though the country's government made no official statements about the block.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Campbell |first1=Ian Carlos |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/12/22621875/whatsapp-twitter-facebook-blocked-zambia-presidential-election |title=WhatsApp, Twitter, and Facebook are reportedly blocked in Zambia during its presidential election |date=August 12, 2021 |work=The Verge |access-date=August 13, 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
==== Third-party clients ==== | |||
In mid-2013, WhatsApp Inc. filed for the [[DMCA takedown]] of the discussion thread on the [[XDA Developers]] forums about the then popular third-party [[client (computing)|client]] "WhatsApp Plus".<ref>{{cite web |title=ipla-2013-07-22.md |url=https://github.com/xda/Notices/blob/master/2013/ipla-2013-07-22.md |publisher=XDA Developers |access-date=February 8, 2022 |date=July 13, 2013}}</ref> | |||
In 2015, some third-party WhatsApp clients that were [[reverse-engineering]] the WhatsApp mobile app, received a [[cease and desist]] to stop activities that were violating WhatsApp legal terms. As a result, users of third-party WhatsApp clients were also banned.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2015/01/21/whatsapp-now-officially-dead-receiving-cease-desist-real-whatsapp/|title=WhatsApp+ Is Now Officially Dead After Receiving A Cease And Desist From The Real WhatsApp|date=January 21, 2015}} See also: [https://github.com/tgalal/yowsup/issues/1004 Legal Action Notices Received]</ref> | |||
== WhatsApp Business == | |||
WhatsApp launched two business-oriented apps in January 2018,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/19/16908810/whatsapp-business-app-launch-small-businesses|title=WhatsApp launches a separate app for small businesses|last=Ong|first=Thuy|date=January 19, 2018|website=[[The Verge]]|access-date=December 28, 2020}}</ref> separated by the intended userbase: | |||
* A '''WhatsApp Business app''' for small companies<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/whatsapp-business-app-definitive-guide-2018-jave-lin/|title=WhatsApp Business App: The Definitive Guide (2018)|last=Lin|first=Jave|date=March 8, 2018|publisher=[[LinkedIn]]|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref> | |||
* An '''Enterprise Solution''' for bigger companies with global customer bases, such as airlines, e-commerce retailers and banks, who would be able to offer [[customer service]] and [[conversational commerce]] ([[e-commerce]]) via WhatsApp [[instant messaging|chat]], using live agents or [[chatbot]]s (as far back as 2015, companies like Meteordesk<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2015/07/29/tecnologia/1438186298_084563.html|title=MeteorDesk o cómo atender mejor al cliente a través de Whatsapp|first=Ediciones Cinco|last=Días|date=September 1, 2015|access-date=March 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327211936/https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2015/07/29/tecnologia/1438186298_084563.html|archive-date=March 27, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> had provided unofficial solutions for enterprises to attend to large numbers of users, but these were shut down by WhatsApp) | |||
In October 2020, [[Facebook]] announced the introduction of pricing tiers for services offered via the WhatsApp Business API, charged on a per-message basis.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WhatsApp|url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/shopping-payments-and-customer-service-on-whatsapp/?lang=en|access-date=October 23, 2020|website=whatsapp.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Facebook adds hosting, shopping features and pricing tiers to WhatsApp Business|url=https://social.techcrunch.com/2020/10/22/facebook-adds-hosting-shopping-features-and-pricing-tiers-to-whatsapp-business/|access-date=October 23, 2020|website=TechCrunch|date=October 22, 2020|language=en-US|archive-date=December 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210232757/https://social.techcrunch.com/2020/10/22/facebook-adds-hosting-shopping-features-and-pricing-tiers-to-whatsapp-business/|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
== User statistics == | |||
WhatsApp handled ten billion messages per day in August 2012,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thenextweb.com/apps/2012/08/23/whatsapp-hits-new-record-10-billion-total-messages-one-day/|title=WhatsApp hits new record with 10 billion total messages in one day|last=Olanof|first=Drew|date=August 23, 2012|work=The Next Web|access-date=January 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116033804/http://thenextweb.com/apps/2012/08/23/whatsapp-hits-new-record-10-billion-total-messages-one-day/|archive-date=January 16, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> growing from two billion in April 2012,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thenextweb.com/mobile/2012/04/04/whatsapp-founder-to-operators-were-no-sms-killer-we-get-people-hooked-on-data/|title=WhatsApp founder to operators: 'We're no SMS-killer, we get people hooked on data'|last=Sushma|first=Parab|date=April 4, 2012|work=The Next Web|access-date=January 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122021711/http://thenextweb.com/mobile/2012/04/04/whatsapp-founder-to-operators-were-no-sms-killer-we-get-people-hooked-on-data/|archive-date=January 22, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> and one billion the previous October.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thenextweb.com/apps/2011/10/31/whatsapp-users-now-send-over-one-billion-messages-a-day/|title=WhatsApp users now send over one billion messages a day|last=Olanoff|first=Drew|date=October 31, 2011|work=TheNextWeb|access-date=January 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127063334/http://thenextweb.com/apps/2011/10/31/whatsapp-users-now-send-over-one-billion-messages-a-day/|archive-date=January 27, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 13, 2013, WhatsApp announced that they had reached their new daily record by processing 27 billion messages.<ref>{{Citation|author=WhatsApp|title=27 Billion msgs handled in just 24 hours!|date=June 12, 2013|url=https://twitter.com/WhatsApp/status/344966710241161216|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015064218/https://twitter.com/WhatsApp/status/344966710241161216|url-status=live|publisher=Tweeter|format=µblog|quote=New daily record: 10B+ msgs sent (inbound) and 17B+ msgs received (outbound) by our users|access-date=August 20, 2013|archive-date=October 15, 2013}}</ref> According to the ''[[Financial Times]]'', WhatsApp "has done to [[SMS]] on mobile phones what Skype did to international calling on landlines".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/30fd99a2-0c60-11e1-88c6-00144feabdc0.html|title=WhatsApp users get the message|last=Bradshaw|first=Tim|date=November 14, 2011|newspaper=The Financial Times|access-date=January 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202164647/http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/30fd99a2-0c60-11e1-88c6-00144feabdc0.html|archive-date=February 2, 2013|url-status=live|location=London}}</ref> | |||
By April 22, 2014, WhatsApp had over 500 million [[monthly active users]], 700 million photos and 100 million videos were being shared daily, and the messaging system was handling more than 10 billion messages each day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/technology-others/whatsapp-crosses-half-a-billion-user-mark-strong-growth-in-india-and-brazil/|title=WhatsApp crosses half-a-billion user mark; strong growth in India and Brazil|date=April 23, 2014|work=The Indian Express|access-date=April 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424174310/http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/technology-others/whatsapp-crosses-half-a-billion-user-mark-strong-growth-in-india-and-brazil/|archive-date=April 24, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2014/04/22/whatsapp-hits-500-million-users/|title=WhatsApp Hits 500 Million Users|last=Chowdhry|first=Amit|date=April 22, 2014|website=Forbes|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514222613/http://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2014/04/22/whatsapp-hits-500-million-users/|archive-date=May 14, 2014|access-date=May 14, 2014}}</ref> | |||
On August 24, 2014, Koum announced on his [[Twitter]] account that WhatsApp had over 600 million active users worldwide. At that point WhatsApp was adding about 25 million new users every month, or 833,000 active users per day.<ref name="Parmy Olsen"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dailydigestnews.com/2014/09/whatsapp-to-reach-3-billion-users-zuckerberg-to-invest-billions/|title=WhatsApp to reach 3 billion users, Zuckerberg to invest billions|author=Christian de Looper|work=Daily Digest News|date=September 6, 2014|access-date=September 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907052426/http://dailydigestnews.com/2014/09/whatsapp-to-reach-3-billion-users-zuckerberg-to-invest-billions/|archive-date=September 7, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In May 2017, it was reported that WhatsApp users spend over 340 million minutes on video calls each day on the app. This is the equivalent of roughly 646 years of video calls per day.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://smattgeeksmedia.com/news/whatsapp-users-spend-average-646-years-video-calls/|title=Whatsapp users spend an average of 646 years on video calls|date=May 9, 2017|work=Smatt Geeks Media|access-date=March 8, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308232541/https://smattgeeksmedia.com/news/whatsapp-users-spend-average-646-years-video-calls/|archive-date=March 8, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
By February 2017, WhatsApp had over 1.2 billion users globally,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/2/1/10889534/whats-app-1-billion-users-facebook-mark-zuckerberg|title=WhatsApp has grown to 1 billion users|last=Statt|first=Nick|date=February 1, 2016|website=The Verge|access-date=May 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007004146/https://www.theverge.com/2016/2/1/10889534/whats-app-1-billion-users-facebook-mark-zuckerberg|archive-date=October 7, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> reaching 1.5 billion monthly active users by the end of 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/31/whatsapp-hits-1-5-billion-monthly-users-19b-not-so-bad/|date=January 31, 2018|first=Josh|last=Constine|title=WhatsApp hits 1.5 billion monthly users. $19B? Not so bad.|access-date=February 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063953/https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/31/whatsapp-hits-1-5-billion-monthly-users-19b-not-so-bad/|archive-date=February 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In January 2020, WhatsApp reached over 5 billion installs on Google Play Store making it only the second non-Google app to achieve this milestone.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/tech/whatsapp-registers-over-5-billion-installs-on-google-play-store/story-jgg9GSYtRWHwZeDIUwK7GL.html|title=WhatsApp registers over 5 billion installs on Google Play Store|date=January 19, 2020|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200119160023/https://www.hindustantimes.com/tech/whatsapp-registers-over-5-billion-installs-on-google-play-store/story-jgg9GSYtRWHwZeDIUwK7GL.html|archive-date=January 19, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
As of February 2020, WhatsApp had over 2 billion users globally.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/10000666/Two-Billion-Users--Connecting-the-World-Privately|title=WhatsApp Blog|website=whatsapp.com|language=en|access-date=February 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212142339/https://blog.whatsapp.com/10000666/Two-Billion-Users--Connecting-the-World-Privately|archive-date=February 12, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=WhatsApp: number of users 2013-2017|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/260819/number-of-monthly-active-whatsapp-users/|access-date=July 21, 2020|website=Statista|language=en}}</ref> | |||
=== Specific markets === | |||
India is by far WhatsApp's largest market in terms of total number of users. In May 2014, WhatsApp crossed 50 million monthly active users in India, which is also its largest country by the number of monthly active users,<ref>{{cite web|title=WhatsApp crosses 50 million monthly active users in India, ties up with Airtel for special data plans|url=http://www.bgr.in/news/whatsapp-crosses-50-million-monthly-active-users-in-india-ties-up-with-airtel-for-special-data-plans/|first=Rajat|last=Agrawal|access-date=May 11, 2014|date=May 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512220453/http://www.bgr.in/news/whatsapp-crosses-50-million-monthly-active-users-in-india-ties-up-with-airtel-for-special-data-plans/|archive-date=May 12, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> then 70 million in October 2014, making users in India 10% of WhatsApp's total user base.<ref>{{cite news|title=WhatsApp user-base crosses 70 million in India|journal=The Economic Times|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/software/whatsapp-user-base-crosses-70-million-in-india/articleshow/45012742.cms|author1=PTI|access-date=July 25, 2023|date=November 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703113835/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/software/whatsapp-user-base-crosses-70-million-in-india/articleshow/45012742.cms|archive-date=July 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2017, WhatsApp reached 200 million monthly active users in India.<ref>{{cite web|title=WhatsApp user-base crosses 200 million in India|date=February 25, 2017 |url=http://m.gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/whatsapp-now-has-200-million-monthly-active-users-in-india-1663332|access-date=March 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303050703/http://m.gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/whatsapp-now-has-200-million-monthly-active-users-in-india-1663332|archive-date=March 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
[[Israel]] is one of WhatsApp's strongest markets in terms of ubiquitous usage. According to ''[[Globes (newspaper)|Globes]]'', already by 2013 the application was installed on 92% of all smartphones, with 86% of users reporting daily use.<ref name="globes2013">{{cite news|url=http://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000893814|language=he|title=92% מבעלי הסמארטפונים בישראל משתמשים בוואטסאפ|trans-title=92% of Israel's smartphones use WhatsApp|first=Tzahi|last=Hoffman|date=November 14, 2013|work=[[Globes (newspaper)|Globes]]|access-date=October 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007070218/http://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000893814|archive-date=October 7, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
=== Competition === | |||
WhatsApp competes with a number of messaging services. They include services like [[iMessage]] (estimated 1.3 billion active users<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/information-facebooks-messenger-has-overtaken-apples-imessage-2019-01-17|title=Information: Facebook's Messenger has overtaken Apple's iMessage|last=St|first=Wall|website=MarketWatch|language=en-US|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808181717/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/information-facebooks-messenger-has-overtaken-apples-imessage-2019-01-17|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>), [[WeChat]] (1.26 billion active users<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/daily-active-user-of-messaging-app-wechat-exceeds-1-billion/|title=Daily active users for WeChat exceeds 1 billion|last=Lee|first=Cyrus|website=ZDNet|language=en|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708221330/https://www.zdnet.com/article/daily-active-user-of-messaging-app-wechat-exceeds-1-billion/|archive-date=July 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=WeChat: active users worldwide|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/255778/number-of-active-wechat-messenger-accounts/|access-date=July 21, 2020|website=Statista|language=en}}</ref>), [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] (700 million users<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=June 19, 2022 |title=Telegram's Premium subscription is here and it costs $4.99 / month |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/6/19/23174976/telegram-premium-subscription-4-99-month-bigger-uploads-faster-downloads |access-date=May 16, 2023 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref>), [[Viber]] (260 million active users<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mind-Blowing Viber Statistics for 2019|url=https://99firms.com/blog/viber-statistics/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808181716/https://99firms.com/blog/viber-statistics/|archive-date=August 8, 2019|access-date=August 8, 2019|website=99firms.com|language=en-US}}</ref>), [[LINE (application)|LINE]] (217 million active users<ref>{{Cite web|title=LINE: number of monthly active users|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/327292/number-of-monthly-active-line-app-users/|access-date=July 21, 2020|website=Statista|language=en}}</ref>), and [[Signal (software)|Signal]] (40 million active users<ref>{{Cite web |title=Signal Revenue & Usage Statistics (2023) |url=https://www.businessofapps.com/data/signal-statistics/ |access-date=May 16, 2023 |website=Business of Apps |language=en-US}}</ref>). Both Telegram and Signal in particular were reported to get registration spikes during WhatsApp outages and controversies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/whatsapp-outage-down-telegram-facebook-messaging-app-a8822501.html|title=Millions of people flock to Telegram following WhatsApp outage|date=March 14, 2019|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422225829/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/whatsapp-outage-down-telegram-facebook-messaging-app-a8822501.html|archive-date=April 22, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://social.techcrunch.com/2014/02/24/telegram-saw-8m-downloads-after-whatsapp-got-acquired/|title=Telegram Saw 8M Downloads After WhatsApp Got Acquired|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US|date=February 25, 2014|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417183509/http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/24/telegram-saw-8m-downloads-after-whatsapp-got-acquired/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://social.techcrunch.com/2015/12/17/telegram-brazil-spike/|title=Telegram Gets 1.5M+ Download Spike As Brazil WhatsApp Shutdown Kicks In|website=TechCrunch|date=December 17, 2015|language=en-US|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-date=November 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125025631/https://consent.yahoo.com/v2/collectConsent?sessionId=3_cc-session_b645fe75-95b0-450d-b984-9b1556c1b6f6|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
WhatsApp has increasingly drawn its innovation from competing services,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://social.techcrunch.com/2018/06/29/whatsapp-broadcast-groups/|title=WhatsApp copies Telegram to add one-way 'broadcast' mode to group chats|website=TechCrunch|date=June 30, 2018|language=en-US|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-date=October 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026133941/https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/29/whatsapp-broadcast-groups/|url-status=dead}}</ref> such as a Telegram-inspired web version<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cultofandroid.com/70720/whatsapps-android-code-hints-upcoming-browser-app/|title=WhatsApp's Android code hints at upcoming browser app|date=December 12, 2014|website=Cult of Android|language=en-US|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808181724/https://www.cultofandroid.com/70720/whatsapps-android-code-hints-upcoming-browser-app/|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> and features for groups.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://social.techcrunch.com/2014/12/08/telegram-claims-50m-monthly-active-users-seems-to-be-attracting-teams/|title=Telegram Claims 50M Monthly Active Users, Seems To Be Attracting Teams|website=TechCrunch|date=December 9, 2014|language=en-US|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120222335/http://techcrunch.com/2014/12/08/telegram-claims-50m-monthly-active-users-seems-to-be-attracting-teams/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2016, WhatsApp was accused of copying features from a then-unreleased version of iMessage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/technology/mobiles-and-tabs/050716/whatsapp-gets-accused-of-copying-features-from-imessage-in-ios-10.html|title=WhatsApp gets accused of copying features from iMessage in iOS 10|date=July 5, 2016|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808181717/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/technology/mobiles-and-tabs/050716/whatsapp-gets-accused-of-copying-features-from-imessage-in-ios-10.html|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
== See also == | |||
* [[Comparison of cross-platform instant messaging clients]] | |||
* [[Comparison of user features of messaging platforms]] | |||
* [[Comparison of VoIP software]] | |||
* [[Criticism of Facebook]] | |||
* [[Instagram]] | |||
* [[List of most-downloaded Google Play applications]] | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
{{ | {{Reflist}} | ||
== External links == | |||
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* {{Official website}} | |||
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