Data Privacy in Communication Platforms

Data privacy has always been a sensitive issue but it’s never been this hot of a topic. We share every moment, every action through our devices with not just our friends and followers but also the social media companies and the companies that market on them.

What do we share really and how is this information used?

In reality we are oblivious to how much information we share with these companies. Information we share with our relatives, our internet searches, our likes on social platforms, what we follow, how much time did we take to look at a post (Yes Really!)... Each of these contain valuable information for marketers. What’s more is that we share information called "metadata" without even realizing it. This data can be stored on our devices and applications to be later used to show us the “most relevant” ads.

What’s been done until now?

As social media companies frequently change and update their privacy policies (which are very time consuming to read through), we have every right to be skeptical of their intentions. It is our right to demand and expect security for the communication channels we use in our daily and professional lives. Even though communication practices and governments take various measures to ensure our data security, the concept of "digital privacy" has only recently become a priority of most businesses. People have migrated towards secure applications and websites that ensure data privacy.

What went wrong with Whatsapp?

With increasing awareness on data privacy, the recent privacy update from Whatsapp caused people to search for alternatives and reminded us how much power Elon Musk’s words hold in our society. As a communication app, WhatsApp announced that if users do not agree to share their data with third parties and Facebook, they will not be able to use the app after a due date.

But according to GDPR, personal data must be collected only for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes. It must be used lawfully, fairly, and in a transparent manner. Whatsapp’s actions were deemed controversial by many, because users who did not agree would be forced to delete the application.

The use of end-to-end encryption is common in communication applications such as Whatsapp. However, as Facebook spams privacy stories to users on Whatsapp it makes you question how much of your attention you are willing to give to one social media company.

What’s the alternative?

We saw some light at the end of the tunnel when we were presented some alternatives by techy millionaires. Signal and Telegram are seen as strong alternatives to Whatsapp, and they have a similar peer to peer structure where you can chat and call people you are already connected with. For small and medium businesses and enterprises, these tools have yet to be proven useful. For professionals looking to reliably, securely and easily connect with their customers and team members, there IS a suitable alternative.

A Secure, Reliable and Easy Tool for Businesses

11Sight guarantees your data privacy with end-to-end encryption that is related to all data you share. Meaning that, nobody else but you will be in the conversation, and NO metadata will be kept. Every statistical data we keep is available to you, we are transparent. Plus, only the data you share will be public to whom you share even if the audience you’re restricting is 11Sight itself. What’s more is that anyone can call you from a URL, button on your website or QR code. And don’t worry you can change the URL anytime you want. It’s like changing your phone number at no cost but instant.

If you want to learn more about communication that respects your privacy, just send us an e-mail at info@11sight.com! Or try us out at vcall.link/demo

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