Facebook’s Messenger has long had the option to chat using end-to-end encryption. This means that chats are encrypted from the time they leave your device until they reach the recipient, protecting them from prying eyes (even on Facebook).
However, with this feature turned on, the chat looks mundane, far less functional than regular chat, and not very appealing to users.
This is changing now.Facebook announced on Monday(opens in new window) We are adding many new features to end-to-end encrypted chat. This includes chat themes, custom chat emojis and reactions, group profile pictures, link previews, and active status. Additionally, Android bubbles now appear when you receive a new message in an end-to-end encrypted chat.
Facebook and Instagram have been ordered by an oversight board to review their nudity policies.
The new features are nice, but having end-to-end encryption enabled by default isn’t enough (it should be). Facebook is making progress there, too. The company says it’s gradually expanding testing to enable Messenger’s end-to-end encryption by default.
Millions of users will see notifications like this in the coming months.
Credit: Facebook
This means that over the next few months some users will receive a notification that their chats have been upgraded to end-to-end encryption. , it happens. Facebook says the feature will be accessible to “millions” of people around the world.
Facebook continues to work to bring end-to-end encryption to more users, with more updates planned for this year.
