Today, we’re releasing new options for erasing messages and enabling end-to-end encryption for voice and video conversations on Messenger. Users have come to rely on the privacy and security of their messaging apps; with these updates, we’re giving them, even more, say over the level of secrecy they feel is appropriate for their conversations.
Voice and video communications can now be encrypted from end to end, thanks to this new feature. Since 2016, you have had the option of using end-to-end encryption for your private text conversations with friends and family. More than 150 million daily video calls are made on Messenger, a number that has increased dramatically over the past year. We’ve added calling to this chat mode so that you can encrypt voice and video calls if you’d like.
Conversations made in apps like WhatsApp are already encrypted end-to-end to protect users’ privacy from snoopers and criminals. It’s becoming the norm in the business world since it ensures that only you and the other individuals on the call or chat can see the information being exchanged.
In an end-to-end encrypted discussion, your messages and calls are safe from the minute they leave your device until they reach the device of the recipient. That implies that no one, not even Facebook, can read or hear what is being emailed or said. Not forgetting that you can always tell us if something is incorrect with an end-to-end encrypted message.
Modifications to the settings for Deleted Messages. Our end-to-end encrypted chats now also have a timer for when messages are automatically deleted. The timer controls provide users the freedom to select when their chat messages disappear, as they may not always want or need them to remain visible. We’ve improved this option so that chat participants can select the time limit before fresh messages are deleted, ranging from 5 seconds to 24 hours.
What’s in The Future
More beta capabilities within these completely encrypted chats that provide users with enhanced privacy and security in their interactions may be made available in the coming weeks to a select group of users.
Messenger‘s group conversations and phone calls are now fully encrypted end-to-end. We’ll start trying out full encryption for existing chat threads and connections among friends and family, including phone and video calls. We’ll also start testing your delivery controls with your end-to-end encrypted conversations. By limiting access to your conversations list, and requests folder, and completely off limits to new messages, you can avoid any unwelcome interactions.
Direct Message encryption on Instagram is now an opt-in feature. Additionally, we will launch a pilot program that will allow adults in certain countries to use end-to-end encrypted direct messaging and calls on Instagram. A preexisting chat or mutual following is required to initiate an end-to-end encrypted DM, much like the current Messenger experience. If someone is bothering you or you observe something that doesn’t seem right, you may always block them or report it to us.
