Can Others Access WhatsApp Content

Since the correspondence on WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted, it cannot be accessed by third parties from outside. If we explain the encrypted protection with an example, when you write "Hello", this message is encrypted on the phone and then sent to WhatsApp servers.

The server then encrypts the replies to your message and sends them back to your phone. Your phone decrypts the message and displays it on the screen. Here, the encryption and decryption processes that take place during messaging are carried out with the token created specific to your phone number when your phone first connects to WhatsApp servers.

In fact, if versions later than 5 April 2016 are used, it guarantees that the communication is sent encrypted not only to its own servers but also to the person to whom the message is sent, in other words, end-to-end encryption, so that the message can only be read by the sender and the recipient. It explains that no one in between, not even WhatsApp itself, can read these messages.  Because even if WhatsApp servers are accessed, the content details will not be accessible because the content is encrypted.

In the working logic of WhatsApp, access to the content by a third party does not seem possible. As someone who does not believe that it is impossible in technology, I think that this situation can only be eliminated with a security vulnerability on the phone of one of the parties. For example, various spy attacks have been carried out over WhatsApp with a malware carried out by the Israel-based NSO Group.

However, it was announced by WhatsApp that these vulnerabilities were fixed with security updates. As explained, since it is not possible for a third party to access WhatsApp content from outside, the state will not be able to access WhatsApp content. As a matter of fact, there is no legal basis for this situation in the current legislation. Decisions to be taken regarding the supervision of communication will also not be applied to WhatsApp software both in theory and in practice. In the current situation, unfortunately, as a result of information pollution, shares are made without being investigated.

Voice recordings circulating in WhatsApp can only be transferred out by the person who received the recording. Although the relevant voice recording can be examined after it is transferred, in order to find the source of the voice recording, it will be necessary to analyse the voice over a database containing the voice recordings of all citizens of the world, so it does not seem possible in practice.