In the upcoming weeks, Meta will test new end-to-end encryption features on its Messenger app, the firm announced in a blog post on Thursday. Some app users will have end-to-end encryption enabled by default for their messages, and they will also be able to save encrypted backups of their chats.
Based on an email from a Meta representative, the timing of the test has nothing to do with an abortion case in Nebraska that was made public this week. In one case, the company complied with a search request and gave authorities access to a 17-year-old girl's messages who was suspected of having an illegal abortion.
Meta would not have complied with the search request if the messages had been stored and transmitted using end-to-end encryption.
Sara Su, product management director for Messenger trust, wrote in the blog post, "As with end-to-end encrypted chats, secure storage means that we won't have access to your messages unless you choose to report them to us."
According to the spokesman, Meta has been planning Thursday's announcement for months. In August 2021 and January 2022, the business previously outlined measures toward implementing default end-to-end encryption. In reaction to Russia's invasion and war, it also extended encrypted conversations on Instagram to all adults in Russia and Ukraine in February.
This week will see the start of secure storage tests, but only for Android and iOS devices. The test excludes other methods of using Messenger, such as desktop access.
End-to-end encryption within Messenger is a measure taken by Facebook to increase the security of your messages. The rollout began in April 2016 with a significant encryption update for Facebook-owned WhatsApp, but trials didn't start until July.
End-to-end encryption ensures that only the sender and the intended recipient may access your conversations by encrypting them from one device to another. Secret Conversation is the right name for Facebook's new encryption. For each chat, you must select this option in order to receive the encryption security.
Using the timing feature in Secret Conversation can help you make your messages even safer. To specify the duration of your message, tap the clock symbol in the text field. One day to five seconds is your option. The messages destroy themselves and vanish after the timer expires.
You can manually erase the chat if you don't want to use a timer. Also, Secret Conversations cannot be disabled. The only other choice is to end your current communication thread and begin a new one without enabling encryption.
