WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum has announced that he has left the company. Although he states that the cause is his mother, rumors want him frustrated with the way he manages the Facebook The advertisements and privacy.
In a publication on Facebook, Jan Koum said:
It's been almost a decade since Brian and I started WhatsApp, and it's been an amazing journey with the best people. But it's time to move on. I've been lucky enough to work with an incredibly small team and see our focus produce an app that's used by so many people around the world.
A publication by The Washington Post, which was released shortly before Koum's publication, says the reason Koum leaves is because of disagreements with Facebook. It is alleged to have clashed with the largest social network, which bought WhatsApp for 19 billions of dollars on 2014, on privacy and security issues for users of the platform.
Withdrawing from WhatsApp, he also left the board of Facebook.
If this is the real reason for Koum's departure, it is the last big blow to the credibility of the larger social network after its scandal Cambridge Analytica.
Το WhatsApp άρχισε να μοιράζεται μερικά από τα προσωπικά δεδομένα των χρηστών του με το Facebook το 2016, για να βελτιωθεί η στόχευση των διαφημίσεων. Όμως αυτό έρχεται σε αντίθεση με την περιφρόνηση που είχε δείξει από την αρχή η εταιρεία για τις διαφημίσεις. Ο άλλος ιδρυτής της εταιρείας, Brian Acton, δήλωσε στο Forbes το 2014 ότι "δεν βελτιώνει τη ζωή κάποιου κάνοντας τις διαφημίσεις να λειτουργούν καλύτερα."
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, responded to Koum's post with the following statement:
Jan: I'll get to work so closely with you. I am grateful for everything you have done to help connect the world and everything you have taught me, such as encryption and the ability to transfer power from central systems to the hands of people. These values will always be at the heart of WhatsApp.
If rumors are true, Koum is reportedly leaving because of Facebook's encryption policy, but we can not know exactly. Let's remind that Brian Acton openly supported the #DeleteFacebook movement last month.
As for what Jan Koum will do after that, the former WhatsApp CEO said:
I want some time to do things I enjoy outside of technology, like collecting rare air-cooled Porsches, working on my cars, and playing frisbee. I will continue to support WhatsApp, but externally.
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