WhatsApp privacy update: Elon Musk urges people to use Signal app

Tesla CEO Elon Musk urged users to switch away from WhatsApp after details of its latest update were revealed (Getty Images)

Elon Musk has urged people to use the privacy-focussed messaging app Signal after WhatsApp forced users to agree to controversial new terms and conditions.

The SpaceX and Tesla boss tweeted, “Use Signal” on Thursday after the term ‘WhatsApp’ trended on Twitter as a result of the app’s new privacy policy.

The Facebook-owned app will force all users to agree to the new policy by 8 February or else lose access to their messages and contacts.

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The new terms will mean that private data collected by WhatsApp, including a user’s IP address and phone number, will be shared with Facebook.

The technology billionaire, who overtook Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to become the richest person in the world on Thursday, also shared a meme highlighting Facebook’s perceived attitude towards user privacy.

Ya don’t say. Reminds me of this timeless classic … pic.twitter.com/Gq1wayoTIr

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 7, 2021

It is not the first time Mr Musk has criticised Facebook, calling the social media giant “lame” last February.

He also included the hashtag #DeleteFacebook, referencing a popular campaign at the time relating to another privacy-based controversy.

Neither SpaceX nor Tesla have official Facebook pages, after Mr Musk ordered for them to be removed in 2018.

He claimed he “didn’t realise" that his two companies had a presence on the platform.

“I don’t use FB and never have,” he tweeted at the time. “So don’t think I’m some kind of martyr or my companies are taking a huge blow.”

He added: “It’s not a political statement and I didn’t do this because someone dared me to do it. Just don’t like Facebook. Gives me the willies. Sorry.”

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WhatsApp will force users to agree to new terms in 2021 or lose app