Comment by ghusto
9 hours ago
Here in the Netherlands, WhatsApp has the defacto communication tool. Everyone is expected to have it installed, not just by friends but also municipals and companies. Same level as having an e-mail address.
It's a missed opportunity for the digital soverignty the EU says it so badly needs. The code for a government backed WhatsApp competitor is there, in multiple instances even. Launch a WhatsApp clone and put all governement communication through it so everyone has to have it installed, and you have an instant EU-wide userbase. From there, people will naturally start to use it between themselves.
Eurocrats could never in a million years make it happen. For starters, every country would insist on having its own ChatsApp, with roll out taking years. Then, to satisfy strict security and compliance regulations it would be restricted to devices passing Google & Apple hardware attestation checks. And once everyone is finally forced to be on board, any confidentiality guarantees can go out the window to catch pedos and terrorists.
It's for the best.
There is a carrier neutral WhatsApp, called SMS.
Not even remotely close.
Reminds me of what Brasil did with Pix which of course the outside payment processors have been trying to undo.
I think my main communication is probably the last tool that I want to be government backed tbh.
Even if it's communication/announcements from the government?
I too am constantly frustrated that official communications from governments happen on Twitter or Facebook.
Communications/announcements from the government can easily be posted on the government's website or, if really needed, sent as an SMS
3 replies →
are those your "main communication" tools?
Do you think if government accounts were on Signal, people would install it?
Signal is an improvement, but not federated.