What is end-to-end encryption?
End-to-end encryption (E2EE) is a secure communication technology that prevents third parties from acquiring access to data as it travels from one end system or device to another.
In E2EE, the data is encrypted on the sender’s system or device, and only the intended recipient can decrypt it. As it travels to its destination, the message cannot be read or tampered with by an internet service provider (ISP), application service provider, hacker or any other entity or service.
End-to-end encryption is used by several large messaging services, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Zoom. The choice to implement E2EE has sparked debate among these suppliers. The technology makes it more difficult for service providers to disclose user information with authorities and may allow persons involved in illegal activity to communicate privately.
What’s New
Option for end-to-end encrypted voice and video calls. We’ve had the option of using end-to-end encryption for one-on-one text chats since 2016. Facebook witnessed an increase in the use of audio and video calling in the last year, with over 150 million video calls every day on Messenger. Now, they were adding calling to this chat mode, so you can use the same technology to protect your audio and video conversations if you like.
Updated controls over Disappearing Messages. Within our end-to-end encrypted conversations, Facebook also upgraded the expiring message functionality. People don’t always want or need their messages to stay in the conversation, and the timed settings allow them to select when their communications expire. They modified this setting to provide participants in the conversation greater options for the period of time before all new messages disappear, ranging from 5 seconds to 24 hours.
References:
https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/end-to-end-encryption-E2EE
https://messengernews.fb.com/2021/08/13/messenger-updates-end-to-end-encrypted-chats-with-new-features/