Last updated on December 13th, 2023 at 02:29 pm

As part of the modifications, Meta won’t access user content unless reported.

Meta, Facebook’s parent company, has started implementing end-to-end encryption for Messenger and Facebook, according to Thursday’s announcement by Loredana Crisan, the company’s vice-president for Messenger. The encryption utilizes the Signal and Meta’s Labyrinth protocols. Crisan highlighted that the extensive development of new features in the rollout was a time-consuming process, involving the rebuilding of the app by a team comprising engineers, designers, and cryptographers over several years.

Initially planned for a default rollout in 2022, Meta postponed due to child abuse detection concerns. With the changes, Meta loses access to user content unless a chat participant reports a message. While the features are immediately available, implementing default end-to-end encryption in Messenger chats will take time. The process, extending to over 1 billion users, involves users setting up recovery methods during the transition. Law enforcement and child protection groups are likely to express concerns, as previously highlighted by former UK home secretary Suella Braverman in September, urging Meta to reconsider the plan.

“They haven’t assured platform safety from abusers,” she stated. “Appropriate safeguards are needed alongside end-to-end encryption plans.”

Instagram won’t have end-to-end encryption initially, but Meta aims to implement it after completing the Messenger upgrade, as announced in August.

WhatsApp already features encrypted conversations.

Additional features include message editing within a 15-minute window, 24-hour disappearing messages, control over message read status visibility, and the option to listen to voice messages at 1.5 or 2 times speed.