Facebook has announced new updates for its instant messaging service Facebook Messenger. In a recent blog post Facebook announced that they are launching new features for the platform along with End-to-End Encrypted Chats.
We are “rolling out the option to make voice and video calls end-to-end encrypted on Messenger, along with updated controls for disappearing messages. People expect their messaging apps to be secure and private, and with these new features, we’re giving them more control over how private they want their calls and chats to be.” says the company in their official blog.
Let’s have a look at What’s New and What’s Coming Soon on Messenger.
Option For End-to-end Encrypted Voice and Video Calls
In 2016, Messenger had offered the option to secure one-on-one text chats with end-to-end encryption. After seeing the surge in the use of audio and video calling with more than 150 million video calls a day Messenger is now introducing the same end to end encryption technology to the calls as well.
“The content of your messages and calls in an end-to-end encrypted conversation is protected from the moment it leaves your device to the moment it reaches the receiver’s device. This means that nobody else, including Facebook, can see or listen to what’s sent or said. Keep in mind, you can report an end-to-end encrypted message to us if something’s wrong“, says Messenger.
Updated Controls Over Disappearing Messages
Messenger has also updated the expiring message feature within their end-to-end encrypted chats. Messenger says, users “don’t always want or need their messages to stick around and the timer controls let someone decide when their messages expire in the chat.” Hence they have updated this setting to provide more options for people in the chat to choose the amount of time “before all new messages disappear, from as few as 5 seconds to as long as 24 hours.“
What’s Coming Soon!
In the coming weeks some people may get access to more test features by Messenger. The test feature will be within the fully encrypted chats. Let’s have a look at What’s Coming Soon.
End-to-End Encrypted Group Chats and Calls in Messenger
Messenger will “begin testing end-to-end encryption for group chats, including voice and video calls, for friends and family that already have an existing chat thread or are already connected.” It will also begin to test their delivery controls in order to work with users’ end-to-end encrypted chats. This will allow people to prevent unwanted interactions by deciding who can reach their chats list, who goes to their requests folder, and who can’t message them at all.
Opt-in End-to-End Encryption for Instagram DMs
Messenger will “also kick off a limited test with adults in certain countries that lets them opt-in to end-to-end encrypted messages and calls for one-on-one conversations on Instagram.” As always users will be able to block someone they don’t want to talk to or report something to Facebook if it doesn’t seem right.
