Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, has broadened its online presence by launching XChat, a direct competitor to WhatsApp. Initially accessible on iOS and the Web, the company plans to extend compatibility to Android users soon. The app’s unveiling, announced last year, focuses on enabling user connections without the need for phone numbers or invites, indicating Musk’s ambition to transform X into a comprehensive platform.
Last year, the official XChat account on X shared a post detailing the app’s features, boasting end-to-end encrypted chats, file sharing capabilities, message editing, deletion, and self-destruct options. The platform pledges to prevent screenshots and alert users of such actions, while ensuring an ad-free, tracking-free environment with a strong emphasis on user privacy.
XChat seamlessly integrates with users’ existing X accounts, requiring a simple sign-in process to access their network without contact syncing or invite requirements. Privacy is paramount, with all conversations secured by end-to-end encryption. Each account possesses a unique encryption key pair safeguarded by a device-stored PIN, with the company asserting its inability to access user messages.
In addition to text messaging, XChat supports file sharing, audio and video calls, for both one-on-one and group conversations, including larger communities. The platform is set to replace X’s Communities feature, which is being phased out due to spam issues and decreasing engagement levels.
A notable feature of XChat is its screenshot blocking capability, aimed at safeguarding sensitive conversations, although it may not be impervious to alternative capture methods. Nonetheless, some experts have raised concerns regarding the handling of encryption keys, with platforms like Signal being viewed as privacy benchmarks due to their open-source nature and limited data collection practices.