Facebook is currently testing new privacy and encryption features for the “secret conversations” of its instant messaging application, Messenger. Testing, which is expected to begin later this week, will include end-to-end encrypted audio and video call testing.
Currently, Secret Conversations only support messages, photos, video clips, voice recordings, and stickers, sent with end-to-end encryption, a protocol intended to prevent anyone other than them. participants to read the content, especially platform providers. The Secret Conversations feature does not support encrypted group messages, payments, or audio / video calls, but the social media giant has started testing extensive encryption options, with a view to potential rollout to the UK. to come up.
More control and more choice
Participants in the test group will see a phone icon at the top of the Secret Conversations window, as shown below, which can be selected to place a call. The option will be placed in a similar layout to the usual Messenger windows.
Facebook told ZDNet that these features “will give users more choice and control” and that development in these areas is “an important step in making Messenger a safer and more private experience.”
This message will self-destruct in 3, 2, 1 …
The tests are expected to last several months. Possible deployments could follow, depending on the success of the trials. In addition, the company is testing a new timer function. Secret Conversations already allows users to set a timer for their messages to expire, but this add-on will allow participants to completely disable disappearing messages – or schedule a default timer for content to disappear in one-minute intervals. , 15 minutes or 24 hours.
The company has already announced plans to encrypt discussions on the platform by default, but it will likely be years before such a rollout is ready. In the meantime, trials with secret conversations could pave the way for the development of default encryption.
“While we expect to make more progress on the default end-to-end encryption for Messenger and Instagram Direct this year, it’s a long-term project, and we won’t be fully end-to-end encrypted for some time. time, in 2022 at the earliest, ”says Facebook.
Source : ZDNet.com
–
