Meta testing E2EE for its messaging platform

Meta has informed that it will start testing end-to-end encryption (E2EE) as the default option on its Facebook Messenger platform. This feature will be initially available only to selected users.

If you’re in the test group, some of your most frequent chats may be automatically end-to-end encrypted, which means you won’t have to opt into the feature. You’ll still have access to your message history, but any new messages or calls with that person will be end-to-end encrypted

Meta is also introducing an encrypted backup feature called Secure Storage, a default way to protect the history of your end-to-end encrypted conversations on Messenger.

These include PINs and passwords, both of which will need to be saved to grant access to one’s account on new devices.

Facebook is starting to test the aforementioned security features, alongside a few others, on Android and iOS, but the options are not yet available on messenger.com or Messenger for desktop.

The new Messenger features come almost a year after a Facebook whistleblower denounced Meta for prioritizing profits over user safety.