Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Signal @signal.org · 4d

We are alarmed by reports that Germany is on the verge of a catastrophic about-face, reversing its longstanding and principled opposition to the EU’s Chat Control proposal which, if passed, could spell the end of the right to privacy in Europe. signal.org/blog/pdfs/ge...

signal.org

40 2.4K 3.9K

Signal @signal.org · 5d

In 2023, Signal was the first mainstream messenger to enable post-quantum cryptography. We’re still ahead of the (elliptical) curve, implementing a new hybrid PQ ratchet ensuring Forward Secrecy & Post-Compromise Security even in a post-quantum world. signal.org/blog/spqr/

Signal Protocol and Post-Quantum Ratchets

We are excited to announce a significant advancement in the security of the Signal Protocol: the introduction of the Sparse Post Quantum Ratchet (SPQR). This new ratchet enhances the Signal Protocol’s...

signal.org

5 100 400

Signal @signal.org · 21d

A reminder that Signal will never reach out to you proactively, never send you a Signal message, and never ask for your verification code. The only way to correspond with Signal is via email ([email protected]) or the Signal Support Center (support.signal.org).

7 74 320

Reposted by Signal

Meredith Whittaker @meredithmeredith.bsky.social · 29d

📣 NEW -- In The Economist, discussing the privacy perils of AI agents and what AI companies and operating systems need to do--NOW--to protect Signal and much else!

www.economist.com/by-invitatio...

An illustration of me, and the headline: "AI agents are coming for your privacy, warns Meredith Whittaker
The Signal Foundation’s president worries they will also blunt competition and undermine cyber-security"

To put it bluntly, the path currently being taken towards agentic AI leads to an elimination of privacy and security at the application layer. It will not be possible for apps like Signal—the messaging app whose foundation I run—to continue to provide strong privacy guarantees, built on robust and openly validated encryption, if device-makers and OS developers insist on puncturing the metaphoric blood-brain barrier between apps and the OS. Feeding your sensitive Signal messages into an undifferentiated data slurry connected to cloud servers in service of their AI-agent aspirations is a dangerous abdication of responsibility.

Happily, it’s not too late. There is much that can still be done, particularly when it comes to protecting the sanctity of private data. What’s needed is a fundamental shift in how we approach the development and deployment of AI agents. First, privacy must be the default, and control must remain in the hands of application developers exercising agency on behalf of their users. Developers need the ability to designate applications as “sensitive” and mark them as off-limits to agents, at the OS level and otherwise. This cannot be a convoluted workaround buried in settings; it must be a straightforward, well-documented mechanism (similar to Global Privacy Control) that blocks an agent from accessing our data or taking actions within an app.

Second, radical transparency must be the norm. Vague assurances and marketing-speak are no longer acceptable. OS vendors have an obligation to be clear and precise about their architecture and what data their AI agents are accessing, how it is being used and the measures in place to protect it.

11 280 880

Signal @signal.org · 29d

Secure backups will let you save an archive of your Signal messages remotely in privacy-preserving form, refreshed every day.

Now available in the latest Android beta release, rolling out to iOS and Desktop in the near future.

4 14 180

Signal @signal.org · 29d

Until now, if you lost or broke your phone, your Signal message history was *gone,* a real challenge for everyone whose most important conversations happen in Signal. So, with careful design and development, we’re rolling out opt-in secure backups.

signal.org/blog/introducing-secure-backups

Introducing Signal Secure Backups

In the past, if you broke or lost your phone, your Signal message history was gone. This has been a challenge for people whose most important conversations happen on Signal. Think family photos, sweet...

signal.org

18 210 680

Signal @signal.org · Aug 13

mastodon.social/@aboutsignal...

Signal News & Tips (@[email protected])

Attached: 1 image Meta AI, the honest spokesperson for #WhatsApp 🤣

mastodon.social

8 98 320

Reposted by Signal

Meredith Whittaker @meredithmeredith.bsky.social · Jun 16

Use Signal. We promise, no AI clutter, and no surveillance ads, whatever the rest of the industry does. <3

Image of a screenshot of news headline, saying, "WhatsApp is getting ads using personal data from Instagram and Facebook
Forced Consent & Consent Bypass
/
16 June 2025
Meta announced today that it also wants to introduce ads on WhatsApp, which will be based on personal data from Facebook and Instagram. This further integrates WhatsApp into other Meta services - an originally independent app, which initially was available for just $1 per year without ads or data usage. This also means that Meta is consolidating its social networking monopoly. EU law was actually supposed to prevent this."

84 1.6K 6.3K

Signal @signal.org · May 21

We're ready for Microsoft Recall and the automatic screenshots it takes of everything on your desktop.

Signal Desktop on Windows now includes support for a new "Screen security" feature designed to block screenshots of your Signal chats.

signal.org/blog/signal-...

By Default, Signal Doesn't Recall

Signal Desktop now includes support for a new “Screen security” setting that is designed to help prevent your own computer from capturing screenshots of your Signal chats on Windows. This setting is a...

signal.org

15 220 820

Signal @signal.org · Apr 17

Now on Signal Desktop: A brand-new selection interface that makes it easy to find an emoji, sticker, or animated GIF that’s perfect for the moment. Happy chatting!

19 27 330

Signal @signal.org · Mar 25

This is why Signal remains the gold standard for private, secure communications. 8/

32 50 1K

Signal @signal.org · Mar 25

Signal is open source so our code is regularly scrutinized in addition to regular formal audits. We constantly monitor [email protected] for any new reports & act on them quickly while working to protect the people who rely on us from outside threats like phishing with warnings and safeguards. 7/

2 77 990

Signal @signal.org · Mar 25

If you’re interested in learning more, this WIRED article from February 19th (over a month ago) goes into more detail:
www.wired.com/story/russia... 6/

1 75 780

Signal @signal.org · Mar 25

In order to help protect people from falling victim to sophisticated phishing attacks, Signal introduced new user flows and in-app warnings. This work has been completed for some time and is unrelated to any current events. 5/

2 55 810

Signal @signal.org · Mar 25

Phishing isn’t new, and it’s not a flaw in our encryption or any of Signal’s underlying technology. Phishing attacks are a constant threat for popular apps and websites. 4/

3 50 860

Signal @signal.org · Mar 25

The memo used the term ‘vulnerability’ in relation to Signal—but it had nothing to do with Signal’s core tech. It was warning against phishing scams targeting Signal users. 3/

2 100 1K

Signal @signal.org · Mar 25

One piece of misinfo we need to address is the claim that there are ‘vulnerabilities’ in Signal. This isn’t accurate. Reporting on a Pentagon advisory memo appears to be at the heart of the misunderstanding: npr.org/2025/03/25/n.... 2/

12 150 1.1K

Signal @signal.org · Mar 25

Right now there are a lot of new eyes on Signal, and not all of them are familiar with secure messaging and its nuances. Which means there’s misinfo flying around that might drive people away from Signal and private communications. 1/

130 1.4K 4.2K

Signal @signal.org · Mar 24

Sometimes one way to say "thank you" just isn't enough, so merci, danke *and* bedankt 🇧🇪

Screenshot showing Belgian Google Play store showing Signal as the #1 free communication app

32 86 790

Signal @signal.org · Mar 19

"We have ceded so many of the core operations of our lives and institutions to tech, we must recognise that strong encryption isn’t the enemy of security — it *is* security." - Signal President @meredithmeredith.bsky.social for @financialtimes.com on the war on encryption
www.ft.com/content/a934...

The war on encryption is dangerous

Government demands to access encrypted data via back doors will leave it vulnerable to hacks, breaches and theft

www.ft.com

5 150 510

Signal @signal.org · Feb 8

Thank you for all that you do with your amazing website! Stroopwafel on us next time we are in the Netherlands 😁.

12

Signal @signal.org · Feb 8

Voor meer informatie over hoe Signal werkt en wat het speciaal maakt, bekijk onze ondersteuningspagina of ons blog. Voor nu willen we nogmaals zeggen dat we blij zijn dat je hier bent. 🤍

signal.org/blog/

support.signal.org/hc/nl

Signal Messenger: Speak Freely

Say "hello" to a different messaging experience. An unexpected focus on privacy, combined with all of the features you expect.

signal.org

5 11 62

Signal @signal.org · Feb 8

Signal is naast je telefoon ook beschikbaar op je Desktop en iPad.

support.signal.org/hc/nl/articl...

Gekoppelde apparaten

Je kunt Signal Desktop of Signal iPad koppelen aan je telefoon. Alle communicatie op Signal via gekoppelde apparaten is privé. Opmerking: Je eerdere chatgeschiedenis wordt niet gesynchroniseerd. A...

support.signal.org

1 5 48

Signal @signal.org · Feb 8

Voor extra privacy toont Signal standaard je telefoonnummer niet aan mensen met wie je chat. Je kunt een gebruikersnaam aanmaken in Instellingen, zodat mensen contact met je kunnen leggen zonder je telefoonnummer met ze te delen. Meer informatie:

support.signal.org/hc/nl/articl...

1 2 11

Signal @signal.org · Feb 8

Signal ondersteunt spraak- en video-oproepen en spraakberichten. Groepsoproepen worden ondersteund tot wel 50 personen en we hebben onlangs een aantal verbeteringen toegevoegd, waaronder oproeplinks om snel en gemakkelijk een groepsoproep op te zetten.

2 2 7