Here in the Netherlands, WhatsApp has the defacto communication tool. Everyone is expected to have it installed, not just by friends but also municipals and companies. Same level as having an e-mail address.
It's a missed opportunity for the digital soverignty the EU says it so badly needs. The code for a government backed WhatsApp competitor is there, in multiple instances even. Launch a WhatsApp clone and put all governement communication through it so everyone has to have it installed, and you have an instant EU-wide userbase. From there, people will naturally start to use it between themselves.
Eurocrats could never in a million years make it happen. For starters, every country would insist on having its own ChatsApp, with roll out taking years. Then, to satisfy strict security and compliance regulations it would be restricted to devices passing Google & Apple hardware attestation checks. And once everyone is finally forced to be on board, any confidentiality guarantees can go out the window to catch pedos and terrorists.
It's for the best.
There is a carrier neutral WhatsApp, called SMS.
Not even remotely close.
For natural disaster emergency annoucememt it is more reliable than whatsapp.
Cell Broadcast yes, SMS no.
Reminds me of what Brasil did with Pix which of course the outside payment processors have been trying to undo.
I think my main communication is probably the last tool that I want to be government backed tbh.
Even if it's communication/announcements from the government?
I too am constantly frustrated that official communications from governments happen on Twitter or Facebook.
Communications/announcements from the government can easily be posted on the government's website or, if really needed, sent as an SMS
My local government still lets you sign up for email notifications about services and local alerts. It’s great!
Too expensive, bad idea.
What do you mean? They'll just pass a law saying carriers have to deliver them for free
are those your "main communication" tools?
Which is one of the many many reasons Zuckerberg needs to be investigated the hell out of for every single thing he does
I grant you 2014 is 12 years ago now and you could plausibly argue it was their doing to grow network effects but I'm pretty sure WA had that infrastructure already in place - Acton, Koum et al already did the ground work to get carriers to... whatever it is
Zuckerberg stole it like he steals everything
Do you think if government accounts were on Signal, people would install it?
Signal requires a mobile phone for an account; so it's not entirely web-friendly. Plus, can you read what's posted to signal without an account?
Signal is an improvement, but not federated.