Facebook has extended its user’s ability to use end-to-end encryption for voice and video calls on Messenger.
End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) is a security feature that prevents third parties from eavesdropping on your conversations and chats. It works like a lock and key, where just you and the people in the chat or call have access to the conversation.
While describing the feature in the company’s news update, Director of Product Management, Messenger, Ruth Kricheli said, “The content of your messages and calls in an end-to-end encrypted conversation is protected from the moment it leaves your device to the moment it reaches the receiver’s device.” No one, including Facebook, can find out what is being said or communicated through chats. If something goes wrong, you can send end-to-end encrypted messages.
End-to-End Encryption has been available for text calls on Messenger since 2016. WhatsApp is already using this feature, and other similar apps, to keep personal conversations safe from hackers and criminals. Following its end-to-end encryption plan, Facebook is now extending this protection to Messenger voice and video calls.
End-to-End Encryptions for Instagram DMs too
Facebook has said it has other E2EE features coming soon. In the coming weeks, it plans to add end-to-end encryptions for group chats and calls on Messenger, as well as a limited testing of E2EE on Instagram DMs too. Test takers can exchange encrypted messages from start to finish and have one-to-one conversations on photo-sharing platforms. According to Kricheli, the test will involve certain adults in some countries that lets them opt-in to end-to-end encrypted messages and calls for one-on-one conversations on Instagram.
“Disappearing Messages” on Messenger too
Apart from encryption protection, Facebook is looking to update its expiring messages feature, which is the same as WhatsApp’s Disappearing Messages. The company now wants to offer more options for users to choose the expiry period before all new messages disappear in the chat. This will be from 5 seconds to 24 hours maximum.
There are rumors that this new development by Facebook is the company’s response to Apple’s announcement they will be scanning iPhones for illegal content. Others think this is happening because Facebook recently changed its privacy settings.
What do you think is responsible for Facebook’s new update on Messenger?
