While users had the option to turn on end-to-end encryption since 2016, Meta will now encrypt private chats and calls across Messenger by default
Meta on Wednesday announced that the company is introducing end-to-end encryption functionality to personal messages and calls on Messenger and Facebook. The firm, which also owns popular messaging platforms such as Instagram and WhatsApp, also announced other new privacy features that will help users control their ‘messaging experience’.
In a Facebook post announcing the launch of encryption on Messenger, Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg said: After years of work rebuilding Messenger, we have updated the app with default end-to-end encryption for all personal calls and messages.
While users had the option to turn on end-to-end encryption since 2016, Meta will now encrypt private chats and calls on Messenger by default.
Explaining why it took the firm a lot of time to deliver end-to-end encryption functionality to Messenger, Meta said that it wanted to get the change right and its team has worked on rebuilding Messenger features from the ground up.
Meta VP, Messenger, Loredana Crisan while informing about what the new feature would entail said, the extra layer of security provided by end-to-end encryption means that the content of your messages and calls with friends and family are secured from the moment they leave your device to the moment they reach the receiver’s device. This means that nobody, including Meta, can see what is sent or said, unless you report a message to us.
End-to-end encryption has been a point of contention between social media firms and governments. While end-to-end encryption is likely to make social media apps more attractive to users in terms of privacy, it also makes it very hard for law enforcement agencies to track illegal activity on these platforms. In September this year, the UK government urged Meta not to roll out end-to-end encryption for Instagram and Facebook Messenger without introducing safeguards, Reuters reported.