Meta and WhatsApp face lawsuit in Texas over alleged encryption misrepresentation
Texas alleges Meta and WhatsApp misrepresented encryption protections and retained access to private communications.
The Texas Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against WhatsApp and its parent company, Meta Platforms Inc, over allegations related to the platform’s encryption and privacy representations. The lawsuit was filed under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
According to the complaint, users were allegedly given misleading impressions about the scope and effectiveness of WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption protections. The lawsuit alleges that Meta and WhatsApp retained broader access to certain user communications and metadata than users may have understood.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the platform was marketed as secure and encrypted while alleging that the companies did not fully meet those representations.
Meta spokesperson Andy Stone rejected the allegations, stating that WhatsApp cannot access users’ encrypted communications. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief and monetary penalties under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
The complaint references media reporting and whistle-blower allegations concerning Meta’s handling of WhatsApp-related data and encryption practices.
The case forms part of a broader series of legal actions by the Texas Attorney General’s Office involving technology companies and digital platform practices.
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