This seems like a win for “civil society”. Putting a dent in NSO’s secrecy so software makers can patch against it would be a win as long as Whatsapp (Meta) publish their findings publicly and not keep it for themselves to be the next biggest threat to “civil society”. As if they haven’t done enough civil damage and spying themselves already.

At last, some authority talking sense!

If they weren’t doing anything wrong they shouldn’t care who watches where they go, right?

Leave…Taylor…ALONE! :p

This article is disingenuous at best and either fueled by ignorance or malice. Another comment suggested it wasn’t officially sponsored, but it still could’ve been bought. Having said, I have to agree with some of the sentiment. I’ve seen advertising on public TV from the likes of NordVPN that is downright fraudulent. Their claims are deceptive and unfounded. Then there’s the recent acquisition of Express and PIA by an old school scammer/spammer. Additionally, many free VPNs are actually surveillance malware and SHOULD be avoided. Any encryption offered publicly by large corporate data-stealing privacy-abusing parasites should be avoided in any form.

For anyone reading this that is hesitant to using VPN because of the article, be encouraged that VPNs are extremely effective at securing your data during transit. They are NOT an outright privacy tool, but can be used as part of your privacy plan. VPNs do NOT make you anonymous! A truthful VPN service provider will say this openly. Like IVPN (Bottom of front page) and Mullvad , both of which attempt to educate customers .

If you’re someone who finds it hard to trust any company whatsoever, then you can host VPN yourself. Admittedly a learning curve to hurdle, but regardless of which method you choose, if your provider is genuine then I see it as a necessity in the effort to keep loved ones safer.

January 1 - This is just the emotionally charged distraction. Keep watchful for the event that needs to go under the radar. A change in laws or policy, a new war, or anything that is meant to erode people’s privacy, security or freedom. The US has a history of implementing undesirable changes during holiday periods when there’s little opposition. Possibly something like this;

https://act.eff.org/action/tell-congress-they-must-defeat-hpsci-s-horrific-surveillance-bill

Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is set to expire on December 31, 2023