I'm almost sure WhatsApp is reading my sent messages to target ads
I know, that's kind of paranoid, but I'm not paranoid like "the gov can hear me through my phones mic and SIM card without internet connection". No, I'm not like that.
I'm just telling, I've talked with a few friends and after that I noticed ads about the exact same subject of our chat, and I know this can be a false impression because sometimes we forget that we had searched about the same subject before, then we have the illusion an app is spying on us, but actually we searched about it without noticing.
That can be true yea, but lately this is happening too much (with too much I mean 3-4 times, which is too much for this context).
Also, I don't see ads, it's extremely rare I see any ad, I use uBlock Origin and DNS Filter with the most aggressive filters, even tho, I still had this very impression in the few times I had seen ads.
I noticed this on the messages to myself too, I often use WhatsApp to transfer quick URLs and reminders to my phone via "message to me".
I'm now encrypting messages before sending to me and decrypting on my phone, that can be paranoid I know, I don't have anything important I just don't want any company making me an idiot without I knowing it.
What do you guys think about it? Does anyone noticed something similar?
Another thing is that I don't use Google so even if I search somewhere in theory I should be protected by DuckDuckGo and Startpage (which I use).

64bithero
in reply to CodenameDarlen • • •So you are surprised Facebook the company whose profit model is entirely ads is using data on WhatsApp to profit off ads?
No I don’t believe you.
May I recommend signal or stoat ? Or session ? Or so many better things.
You’ve given up on Reddit I assume enjoying the fediverse I think you try it with chat too
CodenameDarlen
in reply to 64bithero • • •That's out of question, you're probably from US or something.
You have no idea how hard is to ditch WhatsApp in South America, even government places use WhatsApp to communicate.
It's literally out of question.
Autonomous User
in reply to CodenameDarlen • • •Do you want a solution or to be part of the problem? Crying will not fix this. You need to start somewhere. So, go find a starting point.
It is literally irrelevant what they are doing. You must make them do what must be done.
CodenameDarlen
in reply to Autonomous User • • •I'll die before seeing 40-50 years old non-tech people use anything different than WhatsApp.
Some people here doesn't even know what a Smartphone is for, they just buy it because it "can run WhatsApp", it's worse than Covid.
But I value this kind of morality, I'm the same, but WhatsApp is a hell of a exception. Ditching it will not only affect your social life, but finding jobs, customers (if you're self employed), etc...
Autonomous User
in reply to CodenameDarlen • • •Again, that will not fix it. You keep looking for problems, not solutions.
You do not try, so you will never win.
Autonomous User
in reply to CodenameDarlen • • •WhatApp fails to include a libre software license text file. We do not control it. So, it has never been secure.
Weird you are still feeding it over getting a different app.
PierceTheBubble
in reply to CodenameDarlen • • •appearexpressspot
in reply to PierceTheBubble • • •