Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has announced plans to introduce end-to-end encryption to its Messenger app, a move that has sparked a debate about privacy and security. The decision is part of Meta's broader effort to align Messenger with other messaging apps like WhatsApp and iMessage, which already offer end-to-end encryption. This form of encryption ensures that only the sender and recipient can decipher messages, providing an additional layer of security.
The company has previously faced scrutiny in Europe for violating data privacy laws and has been ordered to make its messaging services compatible with other apps. In addition to encryption, Meta also plans to introduce new features to Messenger, such as read receipts and the ability to send voice memos.
While the move towards encryption has been welcomed by privacy advocates, it has also raised concerns among law enforcement authorities. The encryption means that Meta will not be able to see the contents of most Messenger chats or hand them over to law enforcement. This has raised concerns about the potential misuse of the platform for illegal activities.
Despite these concerns, Meta is pushing ahead with its plans. The company has announced that personal calls and chats of every Messenger user will be encrypted by default. However, group chats and Instagram messages will not be encrypted by default. The encryption technology used ensures that nobody, including Meta, can see the content of the messages unless a user chooses to report a message.
Meta plans to encrypt all Messenger chats using various cryptographic principles, including those utilized by the popular Signal encrypted messaging app. The company has not provided a specific timeline for when these changes will be implemented.