That seems like it will be largely useless. Sure, the masses will continue using a bugged WhatsApp. But anyone with actual interesting/llegal things to say will switch over to an open source messaging app that hasn't been bugged.

That is just the first step of the plan. First they compromise the messaging apps, then they'll make it harder to install open source apps. Then they will force OS level monitoring which is exactly what North Korea does.

This is a power grab pure and simple.