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LordRuyn

Member
Oct 29, 2017
3,909
No matter how this shakes out none of it has any indication of "forcing" you to use a single app, quite the opposite no?

I don't think that's what this user meant. I think what they mean is that, since all these messaging apps have the user's number associated to them, it would potentially lead to all other apps receiving the same messages. That means that someone texts you on one app and it suddenly appears in all of them. Then you'd also have the issue of receiving multiple notifications for the same message across different apps.

On that particular subject, I am in full agreement with them. I use different messaging apps for different purposes but they are ultimately tied to the same number. There needs to be an opt-out feature or my phone will light up like a Christmas tree 24/7.
 

FliX

Master of the Reality Stone
Moderator
Oct 25, 2017
9,867
Metro Detroit
I don't think that's what this user meant. I think what they mean is that, since all these messaging apps have the user's number associated to them, it would potentially lead to all other apps receiving the same messages. That means that someone texts you on one app and it suddenly appears in all of them. Then you'd also have the issue of receiving multiple notifications for the same message across different apps.

On that particular subject, I am in full agreement with them. I use different messaging apps for different purposes but they are ultimately tied to the same number. There needs to be an opt-out feature or my phone will light up like a Christmas tree 24/7.
Yea one of the many pitfalls that will need to be addressed. This is not going to be easy...
 

Irrotational

Prophet of Truth
Member
Oct 25, 2017
7,136
This is nothing really all that new. 20 years ago we had AIM, MSN Messenger, ICQ, Yahoo Chat, etc...
ugh :-( you are right though - what a terrible time to have IM.

I still remember those things as being quite new - the idea that you could see someone was typing and replying in real time was crazy.

The only internet phase that I missed out on, and regret, was the BBS days.
 

Delusibeta

Prophet of Truth
Banned
Oct 26, 2017
5,648
Q: reading the requirements for being a "gatekeeper":
According to the proposed law, companies with a value of more than €75 billion ($83 billion), annual sales of €7.5 billion, and at least 45 million monthly users will meet its "gatekeeper" criteria, which comes with the following obligations and commitments.
I'm pretty sure PlayStation checks all three boxes. Not sure Xbox specifically qualifies, but Microsoft as a whole might, and Nintendo is currently has a market cap at about €64b, so currently won't be affected (although that looks like more a currency conversion issue than anything else). But yeah, Timmy's EGS for PS5 dream might be closer than we think.
 

Lumination

Member
Oct 26, 2017
12,469
7jaoEys.png
 

linkboy

Member
Oct 26, 2017
13,688
Reno
ugh :-( you are right though - what a terrible time to have IM.

I still remember those things as being quite new - the idea that you could see someone was typing and replying in real time was crazy.

The only internet phase that I missed out on, and regret, was the BBS days.

Back then, you could use something like Trillian, which supported different messaging protocols
 

collige

Member
Oct 31, 2017
12,772
This is nothing really all that new. 20 years ago we had AIM, MSN Messenger, ICQ, Yahoo Chat, etc...
Yeah and it sucked. At least back then though, some of those chat services could be used from separate clients like Pidgin since they supported the open XMPP protocol or at least had usable APIs. We've actually regressed since then in terms of cross-compatibility.
 

Dis

Member
Oct 27, 2017
5,937
I don't know a single soul that uses iMessage here in the UK.

Yep my wife does but she's used to it from living in texas when we met and still does purely to message her family there. Even people here I know with iphones don't use it and install other apps to message everyone including their friends also with iphones.
 

EagleClaw

Member
Dec 31, 2018
10,682
I don't know a single soul that uses iMessage here in the UK.

Europe uses mostly WhatsApp, i also know no one that uses iMessage.

But it is a good ruling.
I tried to switch to Signal, because WApp got bought by facebook, but most didn't switch.
So i have now Signal and WApp.
I hope with this i can delete WApp in the future.

EDIT.
edited
 
OP
OP
thisismadness

thisismadness

Member
Oct 25, 2017
4,445
Q: reading the requirements for being a "gatekeeper":

I'm pretty sure PlayStation checks all three boxes. Not sure Xbox specifically qualifies, but Microsoft as a whole might, and Nintendo is currently has a market cap at about €64b, so currently won't be affected (although that looks like more a currency conversion issue than anything else). But yeah, Timmy's EGS for PS5 dream might be closer than we think.

I had not actually considered that. Xbox also seems way past the threshold. They made ~16 billion last year and have 100+ million XBL users, MS is worth 2 trillion.
 

mentok15

Member
Dec 20, 2017
7,290
Australia
It some ways I support this. Facebook messenger is the most popular here in Australia and I don't want anything Facebook on my phone/in my life.

But then I'm concerned with how this will impact E2EE messaging, the Eu doesn't seem to be the biggest fan of encryption. iMessage and Signal are ETEE by default, which I like. And what about something like Sessions? It's E2EE over a tor like network.
 

EagleClaw

Member
Dec 31, 2018
10,682
It some ways I support this. Facebook messenger is the most popular here in Australia and I don't want anything Facebook on my phone/in my life.

But then I'm concerned with how this will impact E2EE messaging, the Eu doesn't seem to be the biggest fan of encryption. iMessage and Signal are ETEE by default, which I like. And what about something like Sessions? It's E2EE over a tor like network.

Signal is ETEE if the other person uses Signal.
You can also send SMS with Signal to everyone, those aren't E2EE.
I believe that is how will be WApp or FB Messages be handled, they will not be E2EE.
They will only be E2EE if you use the same App.

I have no clue from where the idea comes that the EU is against encryption, the personal data rights in the EU are one of the strongest in the world.
 

Deleted member 93062

Account closed at user request
Banned
Mar 4, 2021
24,767
Q: reading the requirements for being a "gatekeeper":

I'm pretty sure PlayStation checks all three boxes. Not sure Xbox specifically qualifies, but Microsoft as a whole might, and Nintendo is currently has a market cap at about €64b, so currently won't be affected (although that looks like more a currency conversion issue than anything else). But yeah, Timmy's EGS for PS5 dream might be closer than we think.
This is definitely interesting. I do wonder however, since consoles require devkits to develop for them (I guess except Xbox?) could that be a loophole that would protect them from this?
 

collige

Member
Oct 31, 2017
12,772
Signal is ETEE if the other person uses Signal.
You can also send SMS with Signal to everyone, those aren't E2EE.
I believe that is how will be WApp or FB Messages be handled, they will not be E2EE.
They will only be E2EE if you use the same App.

I have no clue from where the idea comes that the EU is against encryption, the personal data rights in the EU are one of the strongest in the world.
IIRC WhatsApp actually uses Signal's E2EE implementation, but there's still privacy concerns around Facebook's ability to collect metadata about those messages.
 
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EagleClaw

Member
Dec 31, 2018
10,682
Maybe I misremembered something. I know for things like data retention and privacy the EU is pretty good for.

Just looked it up.
At the end of last year the EU talked about checking encrypted content per AI against child porn and terrorism related messages.
So you are kinda right.
But to be fair, i believe this is done by almost every intelligence service.

EDIT:
Source

IIRC WhatsApp actually uses Signal's E2EE implementation, but there's still privacy concerns around Facebook's ability to collected metadata about those messages.

Makes kinda sense, i believe Signal is introduced by the founder of the original WApp.
I changed, or wanted to change to Signal, because i truly believe FB will use WApp for advertising.
 
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mentok15

Member
Dec 20, 2017
7,290
Australia
Just looked it up.
At the end of last year the EU talked about checking encrypted content per AI against child porn and terrorism related messages.
So you are kinda right.
But to be fair, i believe this is done by almost every intelligence service.

EDIT:
Source
Yea that's what I was thinking of.
My concern with those types of laws is there expansion or abuse. Here in Australia we had metadata retention laws which were braught in to combat those types of crimes, but then local councils started using it to track down parking tickets and such.

IIRC WhatsApp actually uses Signal's E2EE implementation, but there's still privacy concerns around Facebook's ability to collect metadata about those messages.
Metadata can be quite powerful too. You might not have the content but you can know who, when, where, and the size of a messages you sent.
 

EagleClaw

Member
Dec 31, 2018
10,682
Yea that's what I was thinking of.
My concern with those types of laws is there expansion or abuse. Here in Australia we had metadata retention laws which were braught in to combat those types of crimes, but then local councils started using it to track down parking tickets and such.

That isn't a good look and surely misusage of those datas.
But it would also happen if you just use one messeger and there is no interoperability.

Some People only trust Apple because of that, they don't give out the "keys" for iMessage to the NSA and CIA, lol...
 

phonicjoy

Banned
Jun 19, 2018
4,305
Everybody here cheering this on might want to think about the implications for privacy. This is a dumb idea.
 

mentok15

Member
Dec 20, 2017
7,290
Australia
That isn't a good look and surely misusage of those datas.
But it would also happen if you just use one messeger and there is no interoperability.

Some People only trust Apple because of that, they don't give out the "keys" for iMessage to the NSA and CIA, lol...
For the first part it depends. This will result in the apps defaulting to the lowest common denominator, and some apps might be more leaky than others.
And if they're all working together it might be hard to tell. Like say signal and whatsapp start working together, they would both be E@EE but whatsapp will record way more metadata, and you wont know as in signal it will still look encrypted. Even if your not concerned with government spying facebook already builds profiles of people not even using their services though connections like this, this will help them more.

And with iMessage iirc it's E2EE is good but iCloud backups aren't, Apple has the decryption keys to everything on iCloud (other than keychain?). So Apple or some gov can look at my pp pics if they want lol
 

EagleClaw

Member
Dec 31, 2018
10,682
For the first part it depends. This will result in the apps defaulting to the lowest common denominator, and some apps might be more leaky than others. And if they're all working together it might be hard to tell. Like say signal and whatsapp start working together, they would both be E@EE but whatsapp will record way more metadata, and you wont know as in signal it will still look encrypted.

And with iMessage iirc it's E2EE is good but iCloud backups aren't, Apple has the decryption keys to everything on iCloud (other than keychain?). So Apple or some gov can look at my pp pics if they want lol

I don't see that, Signal will receive WApp messages like SMS/MMS right now.
Without E2EE.
Same will be true for every "foreign" message.
Also it is of course an option, the rule is to have this option for the consumer.
You could block it like you can block SMS/MMS in Signal today.

If Signal and WApp uses the same E2EE algorithm it might even work together.

It isn't a risk for the consumer.
There is no third handler by E2EE encryption, just the 2 apps that might be able to produce codes per a known algorithm.
The algorithm might be a company secret, but has not to be a secret to create a secure code/encryption.
The algorithm for Signal is even open source and on github.
 

mugurumakensei

Elizabeth, I’m coming to join you!
Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,320
I don't see that, Signal will receive WApp messages like SMS/MMS right now.
Without E2EE.
Same will be true for every "foreign" message.
Also it is of course an option, the rule is to have this option for the consumer.
You could block it like you can block SMS/MMS in Signal today.

If Signal and WApp uses the same E2EE algorithm it might even work together.

It isn't a risk for the consumer.
There is no third handler by E2EE encryption, just the 2 apps that might be able to produce codes per a known algorithm.
The algorithm might be a company secret, but has not to be a secret to create a secure code/encryption.
The algorithm for Signal is even open source and on github.
No. Even with public websites the encryption keys must be shared it's just done with certificates that authenticate everyone is who they say the are. However adding in something that already has E2E encryption with no third party auth means either all previous messages must be lost or you accept at some point the keys are gonna leak and man in the middle attacks will occur.

It also adds the following problem:

Who's guilty if customer data is sold via a small messaging app that was only able to get access to messages due to interop?
 
Jan 1, 2018
87
Madrid
We will see but even then I could see this still impacting Apple the least.

No matter how this shakes out none of it has any indication of "forcing" you to use a single app, quite the opposite no?

Well… I can't imagine how this would reflect on the UX/UI of the apps, but it's definitely going to be complicated.

If someone messages me from WhatsApp and I'm using that same number in WhatsApp, iMessage and Telegram, would I receive the message in all three? Is the sender going to choose where it's sent to?

This interoperability can get quite messy regarding settings and routings. As a Product Designer, I can say that solving some of those issues isn't a task I'd love to be assigned.
 

EagleClaw

Member
Dec 31, 2018
10,682
No. Even with public websites the encryption keys must be shared it's just done with certificates that authenticate everyone is who they say the are. However adding in something that already has E2E encryption with no third party auth means either all previous messages must be lost or you accept at some point the keys are gonna leak and man in the middle attacks will occur.

It also adds the following problem:

Who's guilty if customer data is sold via a small messaging app that was only able to get access to messages due to interop?

It is just said that every App must have the option to receive messages from another App.
Highest possibility is that those messages aren't E2EE.

I used Signal as an example, it can receive and send SMS/MMS today as an option.
Of course SMS/MMS aren't E2EE when using Signal, that will be the same with WApp or iMessage messages.

If you want E2EE and high security then don't receive or send SMS, iMessage or WApp messages with an different app.

Or maybe better use Threema.
With Threema you even have to scan a generated local code on the display of the receiving mobile.

This law doesn't say that E2EE has to be shared, just an option to receive and send messages to other providers.
 

mugurumakensei

Elizabeth, I’m coming to join you!
Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,320
It is just said that every App must have the option to receive messages from another App.
Highest possibility is that those messages aren't E2EE.

I used Signal as an example, it can receive and send SMS/MMS today as an option.
Of course SMS/MMS aren't E2EE when using Signal, that will be the same with WApp or iMessage messages.

If you want E2EE and high security then don't receive or send SMS, iMessage or WApp messages with an different app.

Or maybe better use Threema.
With Threema you even have to scan a generated local code on the display of the receiving mobile.

This law doesn't say that E2EE has to be shared, just an option to receive and send messages to other providers.
Then I'd really have to ask what the overall impact actually is. If you can use a phone number, any messages can be exchanged via sms. I think of the major platforms only Facebook Messenger doesn't have this?

Or just mandate a standard like RCS must always be an option in your app.
 

EagleClaw

Member
Dec 31, 2018
10,682
Then I'd really have to ask what the overall impact actually is. If you can use a phone number, any messages can be exchanged via sms. I think of the major platforms only Facebook Messenger doesn't have this?

Or just mandate a standard like RCS must always be an option in your app.

For me the impact is that i can delete WApp and write to WApp users while i use Signal.
I don't need E2EE, i'm boring, and most people i know are also not really interested in encryption, or even in privacy.
You can't facetime per SMS or MMS, also provider support for SMS and MMS will end in the coming years.

Of course it doesn't function if someone says he doesn't want to receive unencrypted Signal messages with WApp.

Most people are shouting stuff on twitter, facebook and telegram, they are not interested in E2EE.
Nobody was interested in Threema, because the app isn't free.

EDIT:
I mean that is what it will be, RCS messages between apps.
 

linkboy

Member
Oct 26, 2017
13,688
Reno
All I want is for Apple to replace the iMessage fallback with RCS as opposed to SMS.

The only reason I still have FB Messenger on my phone is to send high quality pictures to my wife as MMS sucks for that (I have a S22 Ultra and she had an iPhone 12 Pro) and to video chat with my son.

I'd love to ditch Messenger.
 

StarStorm

Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
7,594
This is a good thing as long as E2EE is maintained. Hopefully Apple supports RCS with this.
 

Deleted member 5876

Big Seller
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
2,559
For me the impact is that i can delete WApp and write to WApp users while i use Signal.
I don't need E2EE, i'm boring, and most people i know are also not really interested in encryption, or even in privacy.
You can't facetime per SMS or MMS, also provider support for SMS and MMS will end in the coming years.

Of course it doesn't function if someone says he doesn't want to receive unencrypted Signal messages with WApp.

Most people are shouting stuff on twitter, facebook and telegram, they are not interested in E2EE.
Nobody was interested in Threema, because the app isn't free.

EDIT:
I mean that is what it will be, RCS messages between apps.

Since you don't care about encryption or privacy can I see every message you sent to your lovers for the past five years?
Thanks.
 

Delusibeta

Prophet of Truth
Banned
Oct 26, 2017
5,648
This is definitely interesting. I do wonder however, since consoles require devkits to develop for them (I guess except Xbox?) could that be a loophole that would protect them from this?
Strictly speaking, so does Apple (well, membership to a subscription, but Apple does reserve the right to kick out developers), and iOS is pretty explicitly the primary target for this law.
 
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Deleted member 93062

Account closed at user request
Banned
Mar 4, 2021
24,767
And 99.99% of users exclusively download apps from said App Store. IMO, it's a distinction without a difference.
That is not relevant to what I'm saying? I'm saying if Xbox wanted to make their own app store for PS5 with native PS5 games, Sony would have to give them devkits to make them. If you want on iOS you can make an app and distribute it on sideloading platforms like AltStore because you can develop apps using xCode and iPhone Simulator and even your own retail iPhone, however if Apple required users to have an iPhone "devkit" to develop apps at all, then this would be a lot harder to do.