Your WhatsApp Messages Are Not Private: CIA Can Access, Says Zuckerberg

While end-to-end encryption on platforms like WhatsApp prevents Meta from accessing user messages, it does not safeguard against physical access to a user’s device.

Mark Zuckerberg admitted that U.S. authorities, including the CIA, can read your WhatsApp messages if they manage to access your phone directly.

A 2024 interview with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has resurfaced online, revealing a chilling reality about the limits of digital privacy,

In his conversation on The Joe Rogan Experience, Zuckerberg explained that while end-to-end encryption on platforms like WhatsApp protects user messages from Meta’s servers, it does not prevent authorities, including the CIA, from accessing your private communications if they gain physical access to your device.

Zuckerberg clarified that encryption ensures Meta cannot read your messages, but once a device is compromised, any encrypted data can be accessed directly.

Also, read| Mark Zuckerberg Is Busy Making Katan Sword In Japan

He highlighted the role of sophisticated spyware tools, such as Pegasus, which allow agencies to bypass encryption and monitor a user’s messages, photos, and call logs without interception during transmission.

His comment came in response to a question from Rogan about how US authorities, particularly the CIA, could have accessed journalist Tucker Carlson’s communications despite encryption safeguards.

Carlson had previously accused US intelligence agencies of monitoring his private messages, which he claimed led to interference in his attempts to secure an interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zuckerberg clarified that the encryption on platforms like WhatsApp and Signal makes it impossible for Meta to see the content of messages, but it does not stop surveillance if someone physically accesses a device.

Also, read| From Metaverse To Farmland: Zuckerberg Starts Next Big Thing

Zuckerberg also discussed the broader implications of this vulnerability, emphasising that while encryption is a powerful tool for protecting user privacy, it is not foolproof.

He explained that physical access to a device can render encryption ineffective, leading to potential privacy breaches. To address these concerns, WhatsApp has implemented features like disappearing messages, which automatically delete chats after a set period of time, minimising the amount of sensitive data stored on users’ devices.