Facebook Messenger has announced the upcoming implementation of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) by default for individual chats and calls. The announcement was made on Wednesday, with Meta, Facebook’s parent company, stating that the feature will begin rolling out over the next few weeks and months. Existing conversations will be retroactively secured with E2EE, while new chats will also benefit from this enhanced security measure. The company has assured users that E2EE Messenger chats will retain all features previously available in unsecured conversations, such as unsending messages, customizing chat themes, and sending message reactions.
In a blog post discussing the feature’s launch, Loredana Crisan, the head of Messenger, stated that both one-on-one chats and calls will now be safeguarded by end-to-end encryption. Meta collaborated with a variety of stakeholders, including experts, governmental bodies, academics, and advocacy groups, to strike a balance between privacy and safety, as noted by Crisan.
Similar to its sister platform WhatsApp, also owned by Meta, the company will not have access to E2EE messages. An important exception exists; if a participant in a conversation reports the content of their chat, Meta can view the encrypted messages. WhatsApp employs a similar reporting function.
In January 2022, Meta expanded its Secret Conversations feature, which previously required users to opt in for E2EE chats on Messenger. This update added functionalities available in ordinary chats, such as the ability to share GIFs and stickers. Users also have the option to set themed conversations in their secret chats. Additionally, when enabling the 24-hour disappearing message mode in E2EE chats, participants will receive notifications if someone takes a screenshot of the conversation.
Messenger’s E2EE feature will now integrate functionalities commonly found in standard chats.
Photo Credit: Meta
Meta’s journey toward introducing encrypted chats as a default setting has spanned several years, with the company first hinting at these plans when CEO Mark Zuckerberg mentioned the intention to provide default E2EE for Instagram and Messenger.
The company has implemented the Signal Protocol, recognized as the industry standard in encrypted messaging, along with its proprietary Labyrinth Protocol.
Not all users will have their conversations upgraded to E2EE immediately, as Crisan indicated that “it may take some time for Messenger chats to be updated with default end-to-end encryption,” suggesting a gradual rollout process.
It is important to note that while optional E2EE encryption for Instagram chats is not yet available to users in several regions, such as India, additional rollout details are anticipated. Gadgets 360 has reached out to Meta for information regarding the deployment in these areas. Following the completion of the Messenger rollout, Meta plans to enable E2EE chats by default on Instagram.
