Dec 7, 2023
Facebook and Messenger to encrypt messages automatically
It is expected that messages in Instagram, which is also owned by Meta, may get encryption by default sometime in the new year. Apps including iMessage, Signal and WhatsApp all protect the privacy of messages with E2EE, but the tech has become a political battleground. Some children's charities and the Home Office have opposed the expansion of E2EE. New powers in the recently passed Online Safety Act could enable Ofcom to force tech companies to scan for child abuse material in encrypted messages. The-then home secretary, Suella Braverman, alleged that Facebook Messenger and Instagram direct messages were the platforms of choice for online paedophiles, telling the BBC that "We are arresting in this country about 800 perpetrators a month, we are safeguarding about 1,200 children a month from this evil crime". The firm also announced on Wednesday that it would add a number of new features, including the ability to edit messages for up to 15 minutes after they have been sent.
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