How to move your WhatsApp group chats to Signal if you’ve quit over Facebook privacy fears

WHATSAPP sparked controversy when it updated its privacy policy last week.

This led to a wave of people signing up to the similar end-to-end encrypted service Signal and luckily there’s an easy way to move group chats over.

A lot of people have been asking how to move their group chats from other apps to Signal, and Signal group links are a great way to get started. Drop a group link into your former chat app of choice like you’re dropping the mic on the way out. pic.twitter.com/q49DeZufBG

— Signal (@signalapp) January 7, 2021

Signal is now one of the top free apps on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store in India.

Although users switching over from a different chat platform can’t take all their media and messages with them, they can easily set up a new group chat.

First, you need to open Signal and click the three dots in the right hand corner.

Then you need to select the option to create a new group.

Signal has increased in popularity in the past weekCredit: AFP or licensors

Then create a group name and add the contacts you want.

Once you’ve made the group you can then click into it and click the three dots in the upper right corner again.

Then click “Settings” and then “Group link”.

Turn “Group link” on and then tap “Share”.

This will copy a link that you can paste into a WhatsApp group or a chat group on any other messaging app.

Then your friends can click on the link and start sharing in the new group.

WhatsApp has faced backlash after introducing new privacy laws that could result in your account being deactivated if you don’t click agree.

The news rules apply to all users but people outside the UK and the EU will also need to agree to more data sharing with Facebook.

If affected users don’t accept the new privacy terms then they’ll lose access to their WhatsApp account from February 8.

Many people have seen the new WhatsApp terms popup and clicked ‘agree’ without fully reading the terms.

The UK and EU pop up doesn’t mention the Facebook data sharing changes.

The personal data that some users will have to agree to share with the tech giant includes their phone number.

Even billionaire Elon Musk has tweeted to tell people to use Signal.

This is thought to have encouraged a huge wave of signups.

What is Signal?

It’s the app everyone is talking about right now…

Signal is an encrypted messaging app that you can download for free on your smartphone.

It allows one to one or group messages that can include files, voice notes, videos, images, voice calls and video calls.

The app was created by the Signal Foundation and Signal Messenger LLC.

The Signal Foundation was formed in 2018 by Moxie Marlinspike and WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton.

Their aim is “to support, accelerate, and broaden Signal’s mission of making private communication accessible and ubiquitous”, meaning it could be used by everyone everywhere.

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