How much data does your favorite messaging app collect? New study shows 90% of messaging apps now include AI that puts privacy at risk
Publish Date: 2026-06-05 20:00:00
Source Domain: www.techradar.com
- Nine out of the top 10 messaging apps offer end-to-end encryption, but 90% now feature AI tools that could expose your private data.
- Signal ranks as the most private messaging app, utilizing quantum-secure cryptography and collecting only your phone number.
- Meta’s Messenger and LINE rank among the worst offenders for aggressive data harvesting, collecting vast amounts of user information for advertising and tracking.
We trust messaging apps with our most intimate conversations, from sharing passwords with family members to venting about our bosses. However, while we naturally assume our private chats are staying private, a disturbing new analysis reveals that your favorite app could be harvesting your data right under your nose.
A recent study by cybersecurity firm Surfshark took a magnifying glass to the 10 most popular iOS messaging apps of 2025. The researchers looked past basic marketing promises, examining encryption standards, data collection practices, and the creeping introduction of artificial intelligence features.
The good news is that basic security is becoming an industry standard. 9 out of the 10 apps analyzed provide end-to-end encryption (E2EE), meaning nobody, not even the app developer, should be able to intercept and read your messages.
If you combine a secure messaging platform with a reliable VPN to encrypt your wider web traffic and hide your IP address, your daily communications are generally safe from prying eyes.
However, the bad news is that aggressive data collection and poorly implemented AI integrations are quietly undermining these encryption efforts.
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When it comes to treating your data with respect, the messaging market is sharply divided. Surfshark evaluated 35 specific data types listed in the Apple App Store to see exactly what these companies are scooping up.
The best: Signal
(Image credit: Signal)
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