Here in the Netherlands, WhatsApp has the defacto communication tool. Everyone is expected to have it installed, not just by friends but also municipals and companies. Same level as having an e-mail address.

It's a missed opportunity for the digital soverignty the EU says it so badly needs. The code for a government backed WhatsApp competitor is there, in multiple instances even. Launch a WhatsApp clone and put all governement communication through it so everyone has to have it installed, and you have an instant EU-wide userbase. From there, people will naturally start to use it between themselves.

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wldcordeiro 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Reminds me of what Brasil did with Pix which of course the outside payment processors have been trying to undo.

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baxtr an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I think my main communication is probably the last tool that I want to be government backed tbh.

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valleyer an hour ago | parent [-]

Even if it's communication/announcements from the government?

I too am constantly frustrated that official communications from governments happen on Twitter or Facebook.

	▲	thevinter 42 minutes ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Communications/announcements from the government can easily be posted on the government's website or, if really needed, sent as an SMS
	▲	r_lee 28 minutes ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		are those your "main communication" tools?

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toomuchtodo an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

Do you think if government accounts were on Signal, people would install it?