Facebook is introducing an end-to-end encryption feature for voice and video calls in their Messenger App. Facebook announced in a blog post that they are rolling out the change today along with new controls for its disappearing messages. Some of their users may also view new test features related to encryption.
Facebook Messenger has already got end-to-end encryption for text messages back in 2016 when Facebook added a “secret conversation” option to their app. Now that mode also supports calling. Facebook says they are adding the feature as interest in voice and video calls raise, saying that the Messenger app now sees more than 150 million video calls per day.
Facebook chat app WhatsApp is already offering to call with end-to-end encryption or E2EE, which prevents anyone but a sender and receiver from seeing the encrypted data. Similarly some other video calling apps like Zoom, Signal, and Apple’s FaceTime. Facebook characterizes E2EE as “becoming the industry standard” across messaging services. Previously rumors have proposed that Facebook might roll out a unified, end-to-end encrypted messaging system across WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram but up till now, nothing happened.
Text conversations are getting a smaller update that is if the person is setting a message to disappear, then he will see more options for picking when it expired, from between five seconds and 24 hours.
Facebook is also running a limited beta test for other features that are some users will see an option for end-to-end encrypted group chats and calls between “friends and family that already have an existing chat thread or are already connected.” While others will get support for Facebook’s existing non-E2EE controls over who can reach them on Messenger and finally if you are using Instagram, a “limited test” will offer opt-in E2EE for that app’s direct messages as well.
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