Ishita Bora: Signal, the encrypted messaging app, has seen popularity among people after the WhatsApp privacy policy update, as Signal faced big delays in verifying the phone numbers of new accounts on Thursday because of a sudden surge in people trying to join the platform.
It has been reported that the non-profit Signal Foundation said verification codes were delayed across several cellular networks, and that it was working through the backlog as quickly as it could.
Signal stated:
“Verification codes are currently delayed across several providers because so many new people are trying to join Signal right now (we can barely register our excitement). We are working with carriers to resolve this as quickly as possible. Hang in there.”
While the issue has been resolved, the surge in Signal signups followed recent privacy policy changes highlighted by rival messaging platform WhatsApp.
The report said that WhatsApp began rolling out its latest terms and privacy policy, which allows the app to share a significant amount of user data with Facebook.
The changes, which are set to take effect on February 8, 2021, are mandatory and users will not be able to continue using WhatsApp unless they accept the terms. Users who agree to the terms can expect their WhatsApp account registration and phone number, transaction data, service-related information, interaction information, mobile device information, IP address, and other data to be shared with Facebook.
Likewise, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, who recently became the world’s richest person, has criticized Facebook with a Twitter post on Wednesday evening, after the attack on the US Capitol building.
He shared a meme by suggesting the founding of Facebook had ultimately led to the day’s events and followed it up with a tweet suggesting his 41.5 million followers “use Signal,” instead of WhatsApp.
Thus, the Signal Foundation was co-founded and funded by Brian Acton, the former WhatsApp co-founder who left the company after it was bought by Facebook in 2014. And later, Acton urged his Twitter followers to delete Facebook.
