As weird as it may sound, to understand what is the legal status of GBWhatsApp we need to look at various things such as copyright laws and especially terms & conditions etc.. above all, note that even if developers authorize. The GBWhatsApp uses the same server as that of genuine WhatsApp, but belongs to a third party developer and is noted for providing more privacy settings which are top demanded in this era. But the nature of legal wrangling stems in its majority from the official standing that WhatsApp takes and INTs, etc.
What is it important to know first of all, if we were talking about modified versions (as in this GBWhatsApp case), that WA Team GmbH has explicitly prohibited using third-party apps from running along with your version according to WhatsApps Terms and conditions itself. Breaching any of these terms may result in the user’s account being banned temporarily, or permanently Multiple instances of account suspensions for such apps were reported in 2021. Meta’s legal team has also previously argued that any alteration or redistribution of its apps without authorisation exposes copyright laws.
No — from the point of view of intellectual property, GBWhatsApp is not a WhatsApp-made or -supported product. Independent developers then branch off the original code, changing it to work in new ways. WhatsApp is free as an app, however some file sharing which would violate their copyrights was taken by WhatsApp concept developer ‘Mehta’. The line of liability in copyright violations in digital product revolves around the modification and redistribution without approval. Such unauthorized changes have previously carried heavy fines and injunctions in legal cases involving like modifications in other apps.
For instance in industry examples the developers of additional clones like WhatsApp Plus have been sent cease-and-desist orders or decided to shut down their services. Many violate the IP of developers, very much like how modded releases for video games have at times created a legal hassling with litigations or other forms forcing compliance in ways through lawyers.
But the other question legality comes into safety of user and data privacy. Because GBWhatsApp is unofficial, it does not undergo the same level of safety checks as WhatsApp. That worry was actually stoked this past year when news outlets were reporting on malware and phishing attacks that came from modded apps. These unofficial apps are rarely updated and as a result, users using these could easily fall vulnerable to exploits and hollow data breaches.
Thus, GBWhatsApp is pretty much illegal legally talking. The functionalities provided are great, however the use is in direct conflict with WhatsApp terms and may post legal risks regarding copyright infringements. Before using such an apps, users should compare its benefits with these risks. To know more check gbwhatsapp.