From today, Signal neighborhood watch signs and stickers are available in the Netherlands. Neighborhood watch groups that switch to Signal can show that they choose privacy and safety, while municipalities still refuse to place neutral signs.
Why Signal signs?
The Netherlands is full of WhatsApp signs. That may seem harmless, but WhatsApp is a commercial app from Meta that collects data about users and groups. Our appeal to municipalities to replace these prominent advertisement signs with neutral ones has gone unheard; municipalities prefer to advertise WhatsApp with taxpayer money.
That is why we joined forces with the largest sign manufacturer in the Netherlands and designed Signal neighborhood watch signs and stickers. This way, Signal groups no longer have to identify themselves with a sign from a competing, data-collecting app.
Signal: the safe alternative
More and more neighborhood groups are switching to Signal, the privacy-friendly chat app with now over two million users in the Netherlands. The WABP Foundation now also supports Signal groups and distances itself from the term WhatsApp Neighborhood Watch.
Signal is safer and more privacy-friendly than WhatsApp:
- Everything is end-to-end encrypted
- Signal does not collect data about groups or members
- Group names and member lists remain invisible to Signal
- Your phone number is not visible by default (username possible)
- Signal is open-source, transparent, and auditable
In short, with Signal you make your neighborhood safer and protect the privacy of residents.
Signal neighborhood watch signs and stickers
To show that you and your neighbors take privacy and safety seriously and are part of a Signal neighborhood watch group, Signal neighborhood watch signs and stickers are now available.
- Signs: for placement in the street (check permission and any subsidies with your municipality)
- Reflective stickers: easy to place on windows, doors, or bins
The use of Signal’s logo is officially approved. Sales and commerce are entirely handled by Buurtpreventiebord.nl of TrafficSupply; we (AboutSignal) and Signal do not earn anything from this.
Why privacy is crucial for neighborhood watch
It may seem small, but information from neighborhood watch groups can reveal a lot about who lives on a street. If malicious actors know who is in which group, this can lead to risks such as burglary, phishing, or targeting vulnerable residents. Signal prevents this by encrypting everything end-to-end and securing it.
In addition, your phone number is not visible by default, so not even neighbors in the group who you know less well can see it.
Make your Signal group visible
Are you an admin or member of a WhatsApp Neighborhood Watch group? Switch to Signal today and make clear that your group stands for safety and privacy. Read our full page on Signal Neighborhood Watch for more information.
Order your Signal neighborhood watch signs or stickers here.
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