A recent WhatsApp post on X.com, a lighthearted cultural observation, ignited a widespread debate and reignited user concerns about privacy and the platform’s ownership by Meta.

• On October 28, WhatsApp’s official account posted: “people who end messages with ‘lol’ we see you, we honor you.”
• The phrase “we see you” was interpreted by thousands of users as a literal admission the company was reading private messages, despite WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption.
• The backlash stemmed from public distrust of Meta’s data-harvesting practices, linked to scandals like Cambridge Analytica and a $5 billion fine from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).