WhatsApp Sued Over Alleged 'Backdoor' Access to Encrypted Chats; Meta Calls it Frivolous
Technology
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CNBC TV18•27-01-2026, 16:28
WhatsApp Sued Over Alleged 'Backdoor' Access to Encrypted Chats; Meta Calls it Frivolous
- •A class-action lawsuit alleges Meta-owned WhatsApp has 'backdoor' access to supposedly end-to-end encrypted messages, deceiving billions of users.
- •Filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, the suit claims WhatsApp can 'store, analyse, and access virtually all' communications.
- •Plaintiffs from India, Brazil, Australia, Mexico, and South Africa assert Meta retains the technical ability to decrypt and review message content.
- •Meta has dismissed the lawsuit as 'frivolous' and 'absurd,' with spokesperson Andy Stone stating the company will seek legal sanctions against the plaintiffs' counsel.
- •The legal challenge comes as WhatsApp also faces regulatory pressure in Europe over child-safety rules that could weaken end-to-end encryption.
Why It Matters: WhatsApp faces a lawsuit alleging 'backdoor' access to encrypted chats, a claim Meta vehemently denies.
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