Meta has announced its intention to implement default end-to-end encryption for Messenger by the close of this year. The company also plans to expand the testing of end-to-end encryption features to encompass “millions more people’s chats.”
Meta has been working on end-to-end encryption features for Messenger over the years, although many of them have been optional or experimental. In 2016, it introduced “secret conversations” mode with end-to-end encryption protection. This was later expanded to voice and video calls in 2021, and then to group chats and calls in January 2022. Individual chat encryption was tested starting in August 2022.
The pressure on Meta to adopt end-to-end encryption has grown due to concerns about user privacy. A situation arose where Meta provided user direct messages to law enforcement, leading to legal action. This incident highlighted the importance of protecting individual communications from unauthorized access.
Meta’s deputy privacy officer, Rob Sherman, indicated that end-to-end encryption will also be extended to Instagram DMs after the Messenger rollout. The delay in testing was attributed to engineering challenges.
The implementation of encryption features in Messenger required overcoming significant obstacles. Meta had to revamp its server architecture and develop new methods for users to manage their chat history securely, incorporating protections such as PINs. Over 100 features had to be rebuilt to accommodate end-to-end encryption, including elements like link previews.
Meta mentioned that it’s learning from its experience with WhatsApp, which has had end-to-end encryption for years. It is working to adapt similar measures to Messenger. The move towards encryption was spurred by calls from various organizations, including Amnesty International and Fight for the Future, to enhance the privacy of private chats.
Although there are global discussions about regulations that could affect encryption in messaging apps, Meta’s steps to adopt end-to-end encryption in Messenger showcase its commitment to user privacy.
