Message Deletion Privacy

The cluster discusses concerns about retaining chat message history, the effectiveness of deletion features in messaging apps like Signal and WhatsApp, and whether deleted messages are truly removed from servers or recipients' devices.

➡️ Stable 0.6x Security
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19
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#5545
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Keywords

RCS SMS GUI IM UI WhatsApp PC USA MMS PAAS messages delete deleted message history chat email backup conversations emails

Sample Comments

tony101 Jan 8, 2021 View on HN

Exactly. Keeping message history is a liability. There is no need to keep all old messages beyond one week. If there is something specific worth saving, there are apps for taking/pasting notes.

ElevenFingers Jan 21, 2022 View on HN

Signal has a "Disappearing Messages" feature that deletes conversations contents after a set amount of time. This is the only feature that I'm aware of on these major messenger services that works to solve the concern for your conversations on the recipients devices.

norrs Sep 14, 2012 View on HN

Anyone know if deleting message history is enough to kill the history on their servers?

Ziomislaw Jul 15, 2013 View on HN

you do realize that 'delete' does not actually delete your messages?

Someone1234 Nov 2, 2018 View on HN

No, each party would have to opt to delete the history. Other platforms have the concept of private/temp conversations.

tomr75 Feb 1, 2023 View on HN

is there a way to get it to save deleted messages?

What about deleted messages, do they get deleted from servers too?

LinuxBender Mar 26, 2021 View on HN

They will still have all your messages, even the deleted ones.

tantalor Apr 26, 2021 View on HN

Can you elaborate on "whether messages could have been deleted"?

Jommi Aug 15, 2020 View on HN

And lose message history of messages sent on phone? That would be terrible