Telegram Adds 'Delete Everywhere' Nuclear Option -- Killing Chat History (techcrunch.com)

Instant messaging service Telegram has added a feature that lets a user delete messages in one-to-one and/or group private chats, after the fact, and not only from their own inbox. From a report: The new 'nuclear option' delete feature allows a user to selectively delete their own messages and/or messages sent by any/all others in the chat. They don't even have to have composed the original message or begun the thread to do so. They can just decide it's time. Let that sink in. All it now takes is a few taps to wipe all trace of a historical communication -- from both your own inbox and the inbox(es) of whoever else you were chatting with (assuming they're running the latest version of Telegram's app).

Comments

First rule of robotics

[WillAffleckUW]

Never assume any communications system is not already being backed up at all the link points, and by multiple intelligence gathering agencies in multiple venues.

Re:First rule of robotics

[andydread]

well then if that were the case i'm not sure law-enforcement would be screaming about the "urgency" that we give them back doors to encryption.

35 years late

[Ignatius]

"The past was alterable. The past never had been altered. Oceania was at war with Eastasia. Oceania had always been at war with Eastasia."

Re:35 years late

[CrimsonAvenger]

My first thought was "how could I frame a post so that any response looks stupid and/or evil if my post were removed from the thread?"

So, how long before someone realizes this can now be done trivially?

Good thing screenshots are impossible

[xxxJonBoyxxx]

>> All it now takes is a few taps to wipe all trace of a historical communication -- from both your own inbox and the inbox(es) of whoever else you were chatting with

Good thing screenshots are impossible

>> (assuming they're running the latest version of Telegram's app)

Oh, so nevermind. It never would work.

Re:Good thing screenshots are impossible

[Aighearach]

Good thing screenshots are impossible

That screenshot is just deepfake news, I never said that. My best friend is a green alien women, I would never say anything that insensitive.

sounds like too much backroom work

[swschrad]

how about delete all Telegram infrastructure with two taps?

Nonsense

[gweihir]

Anybody with a camera is not impressed. This is not "nuclear", except in the sense that it is tiny and meaningless.

Re:Nonsense

[AmiMoJo]

This is probably quite effective. Consider that the worst most people have to worry about is normal law enforcement, who don't have supercomputers and zero day exploits available, so the best they can do is try to unlock your phone and check its contents.

Securely deleting data, especially if it is by deleting an encryption key for that data, is generally very effective against law enforcement and we have seen over and over again that it works.

The faux-profundity style

[Sveljkovic]

How about an indefinite moratorium on cloying expressions like ‘let that sink in’. In living memory ‘a historical communication’ could be obliterated simply by being set alight. Might even still be true, in a few instances.

Re:The faux-profundity style

[Sveljkovic]

Good point. And for reasons discussed in other threads here, Telegram's new feature won't erase ‘copies’ of their messages either.

Re:The faux-profundity style

[Krishnoid]

Based on all the ads I've seen, I bet Grammarly would have caught that expression and suggested something else.

Re:The faux-profundity style

[Sveljkovic]

Based on all the ads I've seen, I bet Grammarly would have caught that expression and suggested something else.

What could be better than an algorithm at fixing robotic prose.

Whatever

[Ch_Omega]

Whenever someone adds Âlet that sink in to whatever they say, Iâ(TM)m less inclined to let anything sink in, and more inclined to think of them as pompous and pretentious. Let that sink in.

Re:Whatever

[Aighearach]

Whenever somebody says "let that sink in" in person, and I glare at them thinking about what a weasel they are. For a few really long moments. While making a disgruntled, "Hmmmmmm" sound. Then I make a horrified face, shake my head, and mutter, "Nah."

If they tell me that I am surprised to learn something, I turn my head and refuse to show interest until they stop talking. Then I show interest, as in, I'm wondering if now they're going to something on a different topic, or if they're still blathering.

My apologies to actual weasels. Last week I was in park and saw a Long-Tailed Weasel successfully hunt a squirrel. It was a really special moment that I will always cherish. 3 3 real-weasels.

Mark Zuckerberg shoud've used that app...

[knorthern knight]

...so the world wouldn't know what he thinks of his trusting users.