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Encryption makes it practically impossible to transform messages between different protocols, since the cyphertext contains not only the text content of the message, but also formatting, some attributes (e.g. `reply_to`). Even if it were the same, E2EE algorithms also differ between protocols, and you can't reencrypt the message for other protocols server-side.



I thought the opposite, at least as a first thought: Roughly two or three years ago, facebook announced their intent to integrate their messengers - so that you could send a message from your fb inbox to whatsapp, from whatsapp to instagram. And since whatsapp has E2E as a major part of their marketing, I'd think adding it to FB and IG rather than removing it from WA would be the way to go.

(though of course it's not REALLY: it harasses you to backup your messages all the freaking time, and when I say "never", as I ALWAYS do, it asks again in 2 weeks. I assume once they're backed up on Meta's servers, there goes the encryption. But that's a parlor trick and they STILL have that data, as I assume at least 80% back up anyway and the rest is mostly worn down by the constant prompting.)


That's because a single org controls all three messengers and they can develop them to converge to the same message format and to the same encryption mechanism. At the same point Signal or XMPP will use a different format and a different mechanism, making them incompatible with messages from Meta, unless a client with a private key reencrypts them.


Except this change seems to be triggering a reversal of that integration: https://help.instagram.com/654906392080948


WhatsApp doesn't backup to Meta servers. It only supports Google Drive on Android and iCloud on iOS.

You can also optionally encrypt the backups.


but then, why do they not take no for an answer and keep nagging about it, and interpret "never" as "not in the next two weeks, but ask again, please!" if they don't have an interest in having these messages there?

(and no, "it's to help YOU, the hapless user! is of course never the right answer. Corporations never do things for users without an interest of their own.)


That's why we need internet standards for IM. Sadly, not many people seem to care about if their messenger is XMPP compatible or not.




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