A group of WhatsApp users from Australia, Brazil, India, Mexico, and South Africa filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco on Friday, alleging that the company misrepresented the security and privacy of its messaging service, according to Bloomberg.
The plaintiffs claim that WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption does not prevent Meta from accessing, storing, or analyzing user messages. They allege that Meta and WhatsApp “store, analyze, and can access virtually all of WhatsApp users’ purportedly ‘private’ communications.”
The lawsuit seeks to certify a class-action on behalf of billions of WhatsApp users worldwide, arguing that Meta’s statements on privacy constitute fraud.
Meta denies allegations and vows legal action
Meta spokesperson Andy Stone responded to the lawsuit, calling it “frivolous” and asserting that the company will pursue sanctions against the plaintiffs’ lawyers.
“Any claim that people’s WhatsApp messages are not encrypted is categorically false and absurd,” Stone said. “WhatsApp has been end-to-end encrypted using the Signal protocol for a decade. This lawsuit is a frivolous work of fiction.”
The company maintains that its encryption prevents anyone outside the chat, including WhatsApp itself, from reading or sharing messages. Meta acquired WhatsApp in 2014 and has emphasized end-to-end encryption as a core feature of the messaging platform.
Plaintiffs cite whistleblowers and previous fines
The complaint refers to unidentified “whistleblowers” who allegedly provided information on Meta’s access to user messages. Details on the identities of these sources remain undisclosed.
The case follows previous scrutiny of WhatsApp’s data practices. In 2021, the Irish Data Protection Commissioner fined WhatsApp €225 million for violating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) over data sharing with other Meta companies. Meta is appealing the fine.
Privacy concerns rise in centralized messaging
The lawsuit arrives amid growing user concern over privacy in centralized messaging platforms. Many users have sought alternatives with more transparent encryption protocols. Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, expressed support for the plaintiffs, stating,
“You’d have to be braindead to believe WhatsApp is secure in 2026. When we analyzed how WhatsApp implemented its ‘encryption’, we found multiple attack vectors.”
Experts highlight that some messaging apps, including Telegram, offer end-to-end encryption but do not enable it by default. Others, like Signal and Viber, have built-in encryption features that aim to protect user privacy more strictly.
Decentralized alternatives gain traction
The case coincides with the growing adoption of decentralized messaging platforms. Apps such as Bitchat, launched by Jack Dorsey, allow private communication via Bluetooth mesh networks without internet access. Bitchat has seen increased downloads in countries including Uganda, Iran, Nepal, Indonesia, and Jamaica, where users face social media restrictions or communication challenges during disasters.
Other decentralized messengers, including Session and X-Messenger, provide end-to-end encryption as a standard feature, offering users more control over personal data.
Global implications for messaging privacy
If the lawsuit proceeds as a class action, it could have implications for billions of WhatsApp users worldwide. The plaintiffs aim to “expose the fundamental privacy violations and fraud” allegedly perpetrated by Meta, potentially prompting wider scrutiny of privacy practices among centralized messaging services.
The case underlines the tension between corporate claims of privacy and real-world user trust, highlighting the demand for transparent and verifiable encryption solutions.
Gunel Ismayilova
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