The messaging service Signal, operated by a foundation, positions itself as an alternative to major US data-gathering corporations. Europe spokesperson Bartenberger discusses the distinctions from WhatsApp and the app’s funding model.
For those seeking a messaging app that doesn’t involve entrusting their data to a large corporation, the options can be limited. An application like WhatsApp, a Meta subsidiary, is so widely used that it’s difficult to avoid. However, a non-commercial alternative is gaining traction in Germany: the Signal app, managed by a non-profit foundation. Its market share in the country is around 14 percent. “We are not dependent on a government, an organization, or a company,” says Martin Bartenberger, Signal’s Europe spokesperson, in the Capital business podcast.
Within industry circles, the application’s appeal lies not only in its end-to-end encryption principle but also in the fact that its operator has no access to users’ personal data. “With Signal, who is in my contact list, who I communicate with, and which groups I belong to are encrypted,” explains Bartenberger. “All of this data is not encrypted with WhatsApp.”
But how truly secure is the messenger with the blue icon, especially given that it also utilizes servers in the USA? The podcast delves into this question in conversation with Bartenberger, also shedding light on the foundation’s funding. “Signal currently needs $50 million per year to operate and to pay the people who develop Signal,” states Bartenberger. “That’s a significant amount of money, but so far, we have had the support of the community.”
