Whisper App

This is truly amazing.  The story is at this link.  Create an app for iOS and Android where the user can post secrets anonymously and does not need to be afraid that their privacy will be compromised.  They can say anything and it remains a secret as far as who said it.

What could go wrong?

No secret about where it is said.  All it takes is tracking.  But the app maker said that was not done.  OOOPs....change the terms of service quickly, somebody knows what we are really doing!

Where might location be important to know what is being said by an unknown someone?

Around secure government facilities, business premises, anywhere that geographical positioning relates somehow to what is being expressed as an unknown person's secret made public?

The app maker business model: "Trust me, nobody will know who you are.....(but we will know where you told your secret to within 500 meters."  Probably less than that, my Find my iPhone can indicate what side of my house I am on.

How blatant can an app maker be about what the app can really do?

It depends on the technical ignorance of the user.

Easy picking, sucker!

Suggested enhancement:  Offer absolution.  Oh, that is not a new business model is it.  Tell me your sins, my child.  Go forth and sin no more, you are forgiven.

So here is what it looks like to me:  Whisper monetizes its data base composed of what users tell as secrets by selling the information to media when it relates to notable persons of special interest or matters of any media interest.  That is how they make their money.  A couple of reporters visit to check on the media value of what Whisper Inc. might provide.  The Guardian had dealt with Whisper before.  I would bet that Whisper put on it most impressive pitch to show what they can get as far as important stories.  Whisper showed them everything.  It meant bigger bucks to do it.

Whisper revealed what it is really doing as a business model.  Shot themselves in the foot.  How else might they be monetizing their information data base?

Hey, everybody is doing it!

Kinda slimy sleaze.

20 Oct:  Excellent followup on Whisper by Pando at this link.

Whisper app is fraudulent, unethical, maybe even criminal but law does not yet extend to formally charge it as criminal.  Maybe it will someday.

The upside of criminal behavior is that it exposes security weakness that criminals exploit.  Like leaving the door to a house open.  Eposure nailed this one.  However, there will still be doors left open for criminals to enter all over the country and finding them and willing victims on the world wide web is easy pickings.

The CEO of Whisper "welcomes debate"