According to reports, Meta Platforms intends to automatically encrypt conversations on Facebook and Instagram. Over the next several weeks, Facebook users will automatically switch to encryption as part of the rollout; in the New Year, Instagram direct messages will do the same. With a focus on user security, Meta already uses encryption on its WhatsApp platform.
The change means that Facebook and Instagram users would not have to turn on the encryption feature, which allows a message to be read only by the sender and its recipients. Meta, whose WhatsApp platform already encrypts messages, has said encryption can help keep users safe from hackers, fraudsters and criminals.
End-to-end encryption has been a bone of contention between companies and governments. The British government had urged Meta back in September not to roll out encryption on Instagram and Facebook Messenger without safety measures to protect children from sexual abuse.
