Meta announced end-to-end encryption on Facebook and Messenger will now become the default. Messages and calls can only be read by the sender and the recipient. Encryption always existed on the platform as optional, but will now become the default.
The change to default encryption has shown public controversy, as it will make it harder to detect online harms and take those users down.
With the new changes to default encryption, Meta does not have the ability to see what is sent or said unless reported. Meta will notify users of the new change, prompting them to set up a recovery method to be able to restore messages if they lose or change their device.
Meta has stated that with their new systems in place, they have the ability to detect if an account engages in malicious patterns based on behavior.
It’s expected that messages on Instagram will also get default encryption within 2024.
Users will have the ability to edit messages for up to 15 minutes after they have been sent. There will also be the option to send read receipts to people users are messaging.
Disappearing messages make it so that when turned on, messages will only last for 24 hours before disappearing indefinitely.
Changes will take a few months to fully roll out.