Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has announced that it is expanding its testing for end-to-end encryption (E2EE) on Messenger. This move is aimed at enhancing user privacy and providing stronger security measures for millions of people’s chats on the platform.
Timothy Buck, Product Manager at Messenger, stated in a blogpost that the testing for E2EE will now include a larger number of users. Buck also confirmed that the company is on track to launch default E2EE for one-to-one friends and family chats on Messenger by the end of the year.
End-to-end encryption ensures that the conversations between users remain private and secure. Meta’s goal is to augment the existing security measures on Messenger and give users the confidence that their personal messages will be protected.
Buck also mentioned that the platform is drawing lessons from the WhatsApp engineering team on delivering messages at a massive scale and high speed in an E2EE environment. The company recognizes the importance of scalability and reliability, as well as simplicity and lightweight functionality.
Streamlining the complexity of Messenger is vital, especially for individuals with limited connectivity. Meta strives to improve user experience by simplifying the platform and making it more accessible for all.
Developing E2EE on Messenger required rebuilding over 100 features in a client-centric manner, according to Buck. Meta has been diligently working to ensure that the encryption is robust and meets the highest standards.
In a previous update, Meta introduced real-time avatar calls for Messenger. This feature allows users to have video calls without showing their real faces, providing them with a sense of privacy and flexibility.
Ahmad Al-Dahle, Meta’s vice president of AI, shared during a company-wide meeting in June that the company plans to use its image generation model to enable Messenger users to have more options during video calls.
Overall, Meta’s expansion of testing for end-to-end encryption on Messenger demonstrates the company’s commitment to enhancing user privacy and security. By implementing stronger encryption standards and drawing insights from their engineering teams, Meta aims to provide a secure and reliable messaging experience for millions of users.
