Social messaging applications often make headlines a few times each year, either for their involvement in criminal activities or, more frequently, due to users’ concerns about privacy and how large companies—like Meta, which owns WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger—handle data.
In a somewhat different discussion, the Trump administration drew national attention when members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet were reported to be using Signal to coordinate military operations in Yemen. Although the criticism in this instance was not due to hacking or unauthorized access to user data, it did raise questions regarding national security and the appropriateness of high-ranking officials using messaging apps for sensitive discussions.
Furthermore, Apple’s recent move to halt end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) cloud storage in the UK, instead of creating a backdoor for government access to user data, raised eyebrows. This decision emphasizes the power tech companies have to make unilateral choices about privacy and users’ personal information.
In Episode 58 of a podcast, the hosts spoke with Kee Jefferys, co-founder of Sessions, about how their decentralized and encrypted messaging platform safeguards user privacy and data.
Decentralization is crucial
By opting to download and use messaging apps, users often inadvertently grant permissions to track their location, access contacts and additional information on their devices, and store records of their conversations.
Even when an app claims not to do any of these things, there is still a risk. If user data is stored on just a couple of servers, the company could become a target for hackers, endangering users in the process.
Regarding Apple’s decision to stop E2EE services rather than comply with a government request for backdoor access, Jefferys noted that this is likely not an isolated case. “I see countries increasingly adopting this mindset of demanding backdoor access to applications and prosecuting open-source developers,” he stated.
“For instance, we saw Durov, the creator of Telegram, incarcerated in France. Although he was not personally at fault, the fact that Telegram was used for illicit purposes seemed to justify the French government’s actions against him, despite the open-source nature of all Telegram code. This is quite alarming from my viewpoint.”
As discussed before, malicious attacks continue to pose significant threats to both users and the companies managing messaging applications. Jefferys mentioned that Sessions provides E2EE messaging, doesn’t require a mobile phone number for registration, and employs Onion routing to obscure users’ IP addresses. He expressed that using blockchain technology is one of the best ways to secure and decentralize applications.
“In Session, you don’t reveal your IP address to the nodes where your messages are stored. The network is decentralized, meaning there is no single central server holding all messages. Instead, messages temporarily reside across approximately 2,200 nodes within this distributed network. This ensures that the service is resistant to censorship and minimizes metadata exposure while allowing users to sign up without real-world identifiers,” Jefferys elaborated.
When asked to share practical suggestions for enhancing personal privacy, Jefferys advised that individuals can take straightforward steps to protect themselves from hackers and corporate surveillance.
“It’s important to ensure that your social media presence is as clean as possible. Review your old posts and remove anything that could be publicly accessed—not only by AI tools but also to prevent forming profiles about your interests and preferences. Being cautious about your online statements and the digital trace you leave is vital.”
To learn more from Jefferys’ discussion— including his insights on the future of blockchain-based messaging platforms—tune into the complete episode on the podcast platform of your choice.
Magazine: Did Telegram’s Pavel Durov commit a crime? Crypto lawyers weigh in
This article is intended for general informational purposes and should not be interpreted as legal or investment advice. The opinions and thoughts expressed here belong solely to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the publication.