Consumer Council: Which instant messaging app wins in privacy and features?

Data privacy has been a key concern among Hongkongers with many flocking to install Signal after WhatsApp changed its privacy policies. The consumer council has recently published a report which examined 13 instant messaging apps' features and privacy. The consumer council announced the results in its magazine CHOICE, where 13 instant messaging apps were examined, including Discord, Facebook messenger, Google Chat, Kik, LINE, Olvid, Signal, Skype, Telegram, Threema, Viber, WeChat and WhatsApp.

Several aspects such as convenience of usage on website or a computer, convenience in setting up accounts, quality of call, user interface (UI), confidentiality of information and group functions were closely evaluated by the Consumer Council. The study said that when it came to data privacy, LINE, Olvid, Threema and Signal boasted the highest score (5 out of 5) in the category of confidentiality of sending information. Meanwhile, WhatsApp's score was 4.5 out of 5.

The Consumer Council commented that WhatsApp was easy to use with a comprehensive design. It also boasted many group functions as users can reply privately to another user within the same group. The host of a group can also decide who to join their groups. However, the web version of WhatsApp had limited functions and did not support phone calls. 

However, as one of the dominating instant messaging apps in Hong Kong, WhatsApp's group functions scored 5 out of 5 in the test, along with Facebook messenger, Discord, Kik, Olvid, Signal, Threema, Viber and WeChat. 

The Consumer Council commented that Signal's UI was neat and boasted a higher lever of privacy and confidentiality, such as sending one-time pics and blocking screen caps. The app can also blur the faces of people in photos and deleted pics after viewing it. It also encrypted the data when backing up the phone. 

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