In this #BreadandNet 2020 session, Sacha Robehmed from International Rescue Committee (IRC) discusses the role of online platforms in connecting organizations to individuals, while maintaining online privacy and security. COVID-19 forced many humanitarian organizations to rapidly adopt digital tools like Whatsapp to share information with crisis-affected populations, and to deliver[...]
The last weeks have witnessed an increase in reported cases of people losing access to their WhatsApp accounts. At first users suspected their accounts got banned or blocked as a result of not agreeing to WhatsApp’s latest privacy policy. The new update had threatened to delete the account of those[...]
Tech and media companies are exploiting free, popular apps to increase their access to personal data; and WhatsApp has just followed suit. The app has been sending notifications about an odd update to its privacy policy. The latest policy grants Whatsapp permission to share users’ data with its parent company,[...]
Almost a year ago, on October 29, I received a WhatsApp notification informing me that Israeli spyware Pegasus had hacked my phone. I had expected them to tap my phone calls—I was enduring increased security harassment at that time—but I never thought they would use such spyware, especially with WhatsApp’s[...]
One Year Since the October 17 Uprising in Lebanon: Summons and Arrests for Online Speech It’s been one year since the October 17 uprising in Lebanon, which was ignited over the imposition of a “WhatsApp tax.” During this time, Lebanon witnessed an increase in summons and arrests resulting from online[...]
Over the past year, we have witnessed an increase in the number of phishing campaigns in Lebanon and amongst the Lebanese diaspora. Most users have received phishing links through WhatsApp and email; almost all of these campaigns rely on human error, so users need to take precautions to protect themselves.[...]
Many websites and hyperlinks to unverified WhatsApp applications–marketed as “WhatsApp Plus” and promising its users additional features for free–are being shared widely on Twitter, WhatsApp, and other social media. SMEX (smex.org), an organization whose mission is to spread digital awareness and understanding of digital rights, warns that these applications have[...]
According to a statement from the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF), several WhatsApp users have complained that their accounts have been hacked and their information stolen by unknown parties who managed to exploit SMS activation codes sent by the company to users’ phones via SMS. These unknown parties are scamming[...]
