TORONTO – The encrypted chat application Signal remained offline on Saturday, as the company faced technical difficulties amid a wave of new downloads, while users are fleeing the new privacy conditions of WhatsApp.
A rival to Telegram and WhatsApp, Signal also uses end-to-end encryption for secure messages.
The company posted on Twitter on Friday that they are facing “technical difficulties” as “millions and millions of new users” have downloaded their application.
Many of those new users are running away from WhatsApp and their new privacy terms they announced last week.
WhatsApp, owned by Facebook, told the two billion users that if they want to continue using their service, they must allow it to share their data with the parent company – except for users in the UK and Europe.
WhatsApp said in a blog post that their terms weren’t new, they were simply extended – and that they can’t see private messages or hear personal calls – nor could Facebook.
The rapid exodus of users after their announcement caused WhatsApp to delay the implementation of the extended privacy terms from the initial date of February 8, 2021 to May 15, 2021.
Signal said it is adding new servers and additional capacity to continue managing new peak traffic levels.