Jack Dorsey Unveils White Noise: A Decentralized Messaging App Built for Security and Speed
- What Is White Noise and How Does It Differ from Bitchat?
- Why Is White Noise Considered Highly Secure?
- How Does White Noise Ensure Decentralization?
- Can White Noise Handle Group Chats and Multi-Device Use?
- Who Backs White Noise?
- How to Test White Noise?
- FAQs About White Noise
Jack Dorsey has introduced White Noise, his second decentralized messaging app, following the beta release of Bitchat. Built on Nostr and leveraging the Messaging LAYER Security (MLS) protocol, White Noise promises end-to-end encryption, resistance to censorship, and real-time performance. Unlike Bitchat, which relies on Bluetooth mesh networks, White Noise operates via a relay network, offering users flexibility in choosing public or private relays. The app is open-source, supported by OpenSats and the Human Rights Foundation, and is now available for testing on iOS and Android.
What Is White Noise and How Does It Differ from Bitchat?
Jack Dorsey’s latest venture, WHITE Noise, is a decentralized messaging app designed to prioritize security and user control. While Bitchat, his earlier project, operates offline using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networks, White Noise depends on internet connectivity and a relay network called Nostr. Nostr, short for "Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays," is an open protocol for decentralized social networks, serving as the backbone for White Noise’s messaging framework.
Why Is White Noise Considered Highly Secure?
White Noise employs the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol, which treats messages as authenticated events within a TreeKem-structured key agreement. This ensures end-to-end encryption, with rotating keys protecting future messages and "forward secrecy" safeguarding past ones. Even if an ISP intercepts traffic, only scrambled data is visible, as MLS encrypts metadata too. The protocol also supports post-quantum cryptographic algorithms, future-proofing the app against evolving threats.
How Does White Noise Ensure Decentralization?
The app has no single point of failure, relying instead on independent relays to transmit messages. Users can opt for public relays or private ones hosted by "trusted communities," with tech-savvy individuals even self-hosting their servers. This flexibility minimizes costs and enhances resistance to shutdowns or surveillance.
Can White Noise Handle Group Chats and Multi-Device Use?
Yes! MLS optimizes key distribution, enabling group chats with over 1,000 members while reducing computational load. Users can also sync conversations across devices (phones, tablets, PCs) thanks to MLS’s "leaf nodes," which treat each device as a distinct participant during encryption.
Who Backs White Noise?
The project is supported by OpenSats, a nonprofit funding open-source bitcoin initiatives, and the Human Rights Foundation. This alignment underscores Dorsey’s commitment to privacy and anti-censorship tools.
How to Test White Noise?
The app is currently available via Apple’s TestFlight, Android’s Zapstore, and as a direct APK download. Its launch signals Dorsey’s continued push for decentralized communication—a space where privacy isn’t optional.
FAQs About White Noise
What makes White Noise different from other messaging apps?
White Noise combines decentralization, MLS encryption, and relay-based networking, giving users full control over their data without relying on centralized servers.
Is White Noise free to use?
Public relays are free, but private relays may incur minimal costs. Self-hosting eliminates fees entirely.
Does White Noise work offline?
No, unlike Bitchat, it requires internet connectivity to function.
