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A new study says chat apps lack security to protect human rights
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Chat app companies should enhance their encryption practices, according to a study by Amnesty International.
The human rights organization ranked chat app companies on encryption measures including end-to-end encryption, privacy policies, and information sharing. It should be noted that some companies declined to provide Amnesty International with information, which may have resulted in skewed results.
Security practices of tech companies have been under scrutiny lately; they’re facing increasing pressure from governments to provide data, while attempting to ensure users that their data is safe.
Here’s our take on the results:
Facebook, Apple, and Telegram secured the top three rankings for their suite of chat apps, though all scored under 75 out of 100. According to Amnesty International, companies should — at minimum — employ end-to-end encryption as a default to all chat apps and use an open-source encryption protocol. No company currently meets these standards.
Snapchat, BlackBerry, and Tencent fared the worst, all scoring 30 or less out of 100.None of these companies offer free end-to-end encryption, according to the study.
Only five of the chat apps analyzed apply end-to-end encryption as a default. The apps are Apple's iMessage, Facebook’s WhatsApp, Google’s Duo, LINE, and Viber. While other chat apps offer end-to-end encryption, users have to opt in, which could provide friction in the user experience.
Tech companies are facing conflicting pressures around security protocols.
Governments are increasingly pressuring companies to provide access to user data. However, all companies, with the exception of Tencent, have publicly stated that they won’t grant governments backdoor access, according to the study. This has come at a price at times — WhatsApp was banned in Brazil after refusing to provide access to Brazilian authorities.
End users want to protect the increasing amounts of personal data they’re inputting. Many chat apps are furthering the number of services available to users in-app, including transportation, online shopping, and peer-to-peer payments. This is generating higher demand for a secure platform that protects the data being exchanged between users.
End-to-end encryption inhibits AI technology, like integrated chatbots. AI software, like Google’s assistant, relies on the collection of user data to function. The system’s ability to collect and analyze user data can be inhibited by end-to-end encryption. Offering encryption as an “opt-in” feature is one way to strike a balance.
While the study brings awareness to the security policies of chat apps, it’s not accounting for the data stored locally in devices. Only companies with accompanying hardware, such as Apple and Google, can fully integrate the security of their messaging platforms at the device level. All other apps still pose a risk to users if the data is stored locally on the device.
Security will become increasingly important as messaging apps have evolved beyond simple text communication tools to include commerce, file sharing, artificial intelligence, and more. And that evolution is ongoing.
BI Intelligence, Business Insider’s premium research service, has compiled a detailed report on messaging apps that takes a close look at the size of the messaging app market, how these apps are changing, and the types of opportunities for monetization that have emerged from the growing audience that uses messaging services daily.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:
Mobile messaging apps are massive. The largest services have hundreds of millions of monthly active users (MAU). Falling data prices, cheaper devices, and improved features are helping propel their growth.
Messaging apps are about more than messaging. The first stage of the chat app revolution was focused on growth. In the next phase, companies will focus on building out services and monetizing chat apps’ massive user base.
Popular Asian messaging apps like WeChat, KakaoTalk, and LINE have taken the lead in finding innovative ways to keep users engaged. They’ve also built successful strategies for monetizing their services.
Media companies, and marketers are still investing more time and resources into social networks like Facebook and Twitter than they are into messaging services. That will change as messaging companies build out their services and provide more avenues for connecting brands, publishers, and advertisers with users.
In full, this report:
Gives a high-level overview of the messaging market in the US by comparing total monthly active users for the top chat apps.
Examines the user behavior of chat app users, specifically what makes them so attractive to brands, publishers, and advertisers.
Identifies what distinguishes chat apps in the West from their counterparts in the East.
Discusses the potentially lucrative avenues companies are pursuing to monetize their services.
Offers key insights and implications for marketers as they consider interacting with users through these new platforms.
To get your copy of this invaluable guide, choose one of these options:
Subscribe to an ALL-ACCESS Membership with BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report AND over 100 other expertly researched deep-dive reports, subscriptions to all of our daily newsletters, and much more. >> START A MEMBERSHIP
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The choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, you’ve given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of the future of messaging apps.
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