Podcast Summary
There Are No Girls on the Internet
Episode: WhatsApp Says Your Messages Are Private. They're Not.
Host: Bridget Todd
Guests: Annie, Samantha, Additional Contributors
Date: February 3, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode, hosted by Bridget Todd with guests Annie and Samantha, delves into the question: Are messaging apps like WhatsApp truly private, as their advertising claims? With recent lawsuits alleging privacy failures and examples of law enforcement gaining access to supposedly secure communications, the conversation examines how private our digital conversations really are—especially for marginalized communities who may be at greater risk. The group also unpacks concepts like “privacy nihilism,” explores the distinction between end-to-end encryption and metadata, and suggests more privacy-respecting alternatives.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Current Concerns Over WhatsApp's Privacy (01:17–03:53)
- Recent lawsuits allege that Meta (WhatsApp's owner) can access users' private communications, counter to its encrypted image.
- Meta denies the allegations, suggesting the claims are intended to support the NSO Group, known for developing spyware (Pegasus).
- Fallout from these claims has real-world implications for activists, journalists, and ordinary users—especially those discussing sensitive topics like reproductive health or immigration.
"Is WhatsApp reading your private encrypted messages? …Meta, Surprise Surprise, is denying the allegations, calling the lawsuit's claim categorically false and absurd..."
— Bridget Todd (01:17)
2. ‘Privacy Nihilism’ and Why Privacy Matters for Everyone (03:53–05:00)
- Many people believe privacy is no longer possible or only matters for those with “something to hide”—a stance dubbed “privacy nihilism.”
- Bridget asserts: privacy is essential for everyone because we all have something to lose.
"Privacy isn't just for people with something to hide. It is for people with something to lose. And right now, in 2025, given everything that is going on, that is all of us."
— Bridget Todd (04:32)
3. Corporate Marketing on Privacy—A Dystopian Turn (05:00–07:18)
- Companies like WhatsApp and Apple now advertise privacy as a feature, yet these ads feel dystopian given the current political and social climate.
- Annie references a WhatsApp ad implying the platform is safe for discussing abortion—a worrying suggestion considering privacy is not absolute.
"It's strange to me in a way that we're living in such a dystopian world where there are ads that are like, you don't want anyone to know about your medical... It's absolutely true. But it's strange that it's in an ad campaign."
— Annie (06:45)
4. Is WhatsApp Actually Private? Platform Ownership and Data Collection (09:37–13:22)
- WhatsApp uses default end-to-end encryption—a technical strength.
- However, as a Meta product, WhatsApp collects metadata (account info, location, contacts, etc.) and may share it with law enforcement or third parties if certain content is flagged.
"WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, which means Facebook can access some data WhatsApp collects on you for specified purposes, which may be bad for privacy... WhatsApp makes extensive use of outside contractors and AI systems to examine certain messages, images, and videos that have been flagged..."
— Bridget Todd (11:51)
5. Meta's Track Record and User Trust (13:22–14:58)
- Meta has a history of saying one thing publicly and doing another regarding user privacy.
- Previous changes to terms of service and policy reversals have eroded trust.
"I think all of that plays into the question of, like, whether or not you're comfortable with them having information about you that could potentially wind you in jail. This is not a hypothetical."
— Bridget Todd (13:43)
6. User Agreements and the Illusion of Consent (18:13–20:29)
- Contributors discuss how unreadable terms of service and required agreements mean users seldom understand what they’re consenting to.
- This is used to justify broad data collection and sharing.
"They're literally holding your stuff hostage. ...If you want to log in, you can, but you have to give us access to your computer, your information. We have ownership of all your pictures that you're posting."
— Podcast Contributor (20:09)
7. Apple vs. WhatsApp: Transparency Sparks Outrage (20:29–21:50)
- Apple's App Store privacy labels revealed to users the extent of data WhatsApp links to them, contradicting WhatsApp's private image.
- This led to public outcry and regulatory penalties.
"When WhatsApp, owned by Meta, was in the App Store, Apple published this information that's like, oh, here's the data that this app will link to you. And people were like, wait a minute, I was told this was private."
— Bridget Todd (20:29)
8. Real-World Consequences: Law Enforcement Access and Legal Risk (23:06–25:57)
- Example: Facebook turned over Messenger chats in a Nebraska abortion case, leading to prison sentences. Messenger encryption is opt-in and less secure than WhatsApp's by default.
- Meta chooses to comply with legal warrants even when not strictly required.
"Facebook gave the police department in Norfolk, Nebraska access to their private messages...Burgess ended up getting sentenced to two years in prison and her daughter got 90 days."
— Bridget Todd (24:29)
9. Hacking, Metadata, and the Limits of Encryption (26:24–28:43)
- Episodes of WhatsApp accounts being hacked are common. Users question how a platform can claim privacy when security breaches are routine.
- Even if message content is encrypted, metadata (who, when, location) is accessible and routinely shared.
"If the police were trying to build a case against you that relied on location data, ...WhatsApp has metadata. So even if they can't get the actual messages, they're fine giving metadata."
— Bridget Todd (27:40)
10. Legal Loopholes: Surveillance Without Probable Cause (28:58–30:04)
- Under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, WhatsApp complies with government tracking requests without requiring probable cause. This includes sharing metadata and usage patterns.
"Federal agencies can use the Electronic Communications Privacy act to covertly track users without submitting any probable cause or linking a user's number to their identity."
— Bridget Todd (28:58)
11. WhatsApp Business: Even Less Private (30:04–30:33)
- WhatsApp Business is even less protective of user data. Avoid using it for sensitive matters.
"Everything that I've said so far is really about regular WhatsApp, and that's because WhatsApp's business platform is actually less private. So, yeah, don't use that to talk about anything."
— Bridget Todd (29:02)
12. Signal: The Better Alternative (33:51–36:35)
- Signal is applauded as a nonprofit, open-source app with minimal data collection, providing far more robust privacy than WhatsApp.
- Bridget shares her personal support for Signal and highlights its leadership by privacy advocates.
"Signal is generally considered to be more secure and private than WhatsApp due to its just general commitment to user privacy...While WhatsApp uses end to end encryption, Signal goes further by not collecting any user metadata."
— Bridget Todd (34:42, 35:14)
13. Marketing vs. Reality and the Dangers of Digital Complacency (39:41–42:48)
- There is widespread concern that marketing overstates app security, lulling users into a false sense of safety.
- Privacy and security are not just technology issues—they are survival issues for many.
"Privacy and security is not just a tech issue. It is a survival issue. And we have to protect our data and our conversations the way that we also protect each other."
— Bridget Todd (41:17)
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
-
Privacy Nihilism:
“That is actually a very common attitude called privacy nihilism, where you just are like, the government has all that they're going to have on me. It doesn't matter.”
— Bridget Todd (03:53) -
Dystopian Ads:
“It's weird to get reminded of it while you're watching Bob's Burger. I totally understand the weird. It does feel rather dystopian. I totally get it.”
— Bridget Todd (07:18) -
WhatsApp’s Real Owners:
“When I saw Meta at the bottom of it, and I was like, okay, wait, now. Now I have a lot of concerns.”
— Annie (08:47) -
Big Tech Trust:
“So if you're asking the big question of, like, whether or not you would trust WhatsApp, run by Meta at their word that they are private, I mean, it really comes down to the fact, like, do you trust Facebook? Do you trust Mark Zuckerberg?”
— Bridget Todd (09:37) -
Hacks and Breaches:
“What? My WhatsApp has been hacked so many times. My messenger has been hacked so much. I was like, I f this, I'm not doing this anymore.”
— Podcast Contributor (26:24) -
Metadata Matters:
“Even if WhatsApp, their encryption means that they cannot hand the content of your messages over to the police ... WhatsApp has metadata. ... It's really about understanding privacy in a more holistic way...”
— Bridget Todd (27:40)
Suggested Action Steps and Resources
- Switch to Signal: For sensitive communication—especially about health care, protests, or activism—Signal is recommended over WhatsApp or Messenger for its strong privacy stance (34:42).
- Understand Metadata: Recognize that end-to-end encryption doesn’t prevent companies or law enforcement from accessing metadata, which can reveal a lot about your activity (27:40).
- Be Skeptical of Ads: Don’t rely on marketing for security assurances; always research a platform’s policies and track record (39:41).
Helpful Timestamps
- 01:17 – Lawsuit against Meta and WhatsApp's privacy claims
- 03:53 – Introducing ‘privacy nihilism’
- 05:00 – Dystopian turn in privacy marketing
- 09:37 – WhatsApp, Meta, and platform trust
- 13:43 – Meta’s history of policy reversals
- 18:13 – User experience with unreadable terms of service
- 23:06 – Real-life legal entanglement from chat messages
- 27:40 – Metadata and the limits of encryption
- 28:58 – Legal loopholes and government surveillance
- 33:51 – Comparing WhatsApp to Signal
- 41:17 – Privacy as a survival issue
Tone and Recurring Themes
The episode is urgent, frank, and at times darkly humorous, using real-world scandals and policy disputes to illustrate how privacy is both a personal and political issue. Bridget Todd and guests mix technical explanations with anecdotes to underscore just how much is at stake, especially for marginalized people.
Further Resources
- Mozilla IRL Podcast (hosted by Bridget Todd): For deeper dives into digital privacy and AI ethics.
- Mozilla’s Privacy Not Included Blog: Analysis of app privacy practices.
- Signal: https://signal.org
Summary prepared for listeners seeking clarity on WhatsApp, data privacy, and practical security steps—especially those concerned about sensitive topics and marginalized communities.