Elon Musk recently criticized Signal Messenger's reliability following a series of platform outages, including incidents affecting Snapchat and Duolingo. Signal's President, Meredith Whittaker, defended the app, emphasizing its robust reputation within security and hacker communities due to its open-source code and proven privacy standards. Signal maintains that its centralized infrastructure does not compromise encrypted communications as it does not hold the keys to user data.
Signal's Defense and Reputation
Whittaker asserted that Signal's long-standing commitment to privacy and security is why hundreds of millions trust it. The app's transparent, open-source nature allows users to verify its security independently. Despite facing criticism for operational flaws, Signal remains influential in the messaging app domain, particularly as X, Musk's venture, seeks to broaden its own ecosystem.
Encryption and Verification Significance
Musk is promoting X Chat, a new entry in the encrypted messaging space. Security experts stress that true encryption requires open-source platforms for independent verification, a practice Signal adheres to. X Chat officials have indicated plans to simplify the verification process for their chat features, aligning with industry standards for transparency.
- Elon Musk criticized Signal after outages on 2025-10-21.
- Meredith Whittaker defended Signal's security credentials.
- Signal does not store encryption keys, ensuring privacy.
- X plans to enhance verification of its encrypted chat features.
- Signal retains a significant role in messaging apps despite competition.
