Why WhatsApp could be a game-changer for American healthcare

When messaging service WhatsApp announced in April that it would adopt end-to-end encryption, it rankled law-enforcement agencies worldwide (Brazilian officials briefly shut down the Facebook-owned app on two separate occasions this year). But the move may have also opened the door to better healthcare. Nearly nine out of 10 doctors in Brazil communicate with patients using WhatsApp, in part because of its strong privacy controls. So far, U.S. doctors' uptake has been slower—just 4% use it with patients. But as the company flaunts its commitment to encryption, that could change.