January 27, 2026 Elon Musk fuels a fresh privacy debate, as Meta faces a lawsuit over WhatsApp’s security and data protection claims. Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Trevor Cokley / Public Domain Elon Musk has reignited debate over the security of popular messaging platforms, publicly questioning the safety of Meta’s WhatsApp while promoting X Chat as a more secure alternative. His remarks come at a sensitive time for Meta Platforms, which is facing new legal scrutiny over its handling of user data. In a post on X, Musk warned that WhatsApp is not secure and suggested that even other encrypted messaging apps should be approached with caution. He encouraged users to switch to X Chat, highlighting ongoing concerns about privacy, surveillance, and data access across mainstream communication services. Lawsuit targets Meta and WhatsApp Musk’s remarks coincide with a newly filed lawsuit against Meta Platforms, accusing the company of misleading users about WhatsApp’s privacy protections. An international group of plaintiffs has brought the case before a US federal court in San Francisco, alleging that Meta falsely represents WhatsApp messages as fully private. According to the complaint, Meta markets WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption as a guarantee that only senders and recipients can access message content. The plaintiffs contend, however, that Meta and WhatsApp store, analyze, and potentially access users’ communications despite the assurances presented within the app. WhatsApp is not secure. Even Signal is questionable. Use 𝕏 Chat. https://t.co/MWXCOmkbTD — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 27, 2026 Whistleblowers and global plaintiffs The lawsuit includes plaintiffs from Australia, Brazil, India, Mexico, and South Africa, underscoring the global scope of the claims. The filing references whistleblowers who allegedly helped expose internal practices, though their identities are not disclosed in court documents. The plaintiffs accuse Meta and WhatsApp executives of deceiving billions of users worldwide and are seeking class-action status. Several international law firms are involved, signaling what could become a prolonged and closely watched legal battle. Meta pushes back strongly Meta has strongly denied the allegations. A company spokesperson dismissed the lawsuit as frivolous and said Meta intends to pursue sanctions against the plaintiffs’ legal counsel. The company emphasized that WhatsApp has employed end-to-end encryption based on the Signal protocol for over a decade and firmly rejects any claim that it can read users’ messages. According to Meta, its encryption framework prevents the company itself from accessing private communications. Privacy debate intensifies as Musk targets WhatsApp Musk’s intervention has added momentum to an already heated global debate over digital privacy and trust in major technology platforms. As regulators, courts, and users continue to scrutinize how companies manage private communications, the lawsuit against Meta, along with Musk’s public warnings, underscores growing skepticism about whether encryption promises align with real-world practices. See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email! Facebook