Alexander Lewis 
Dec 07, 2023
Meta —parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram— announced on Wednesday that it has begun started integrating end-to-end encryption for all personal chats and calls on Messenger and Facebook.
Although it may take some time for all Messenger accounts to receive the default encryption update, the social media giant announced the immediate availability of its end-to-end encryption feature, according to an official statement released by Meta.
Unlike the previous option to manually activate end-to-end encryption, messages with this feature will now be automatically encrypted by default, enhancing user privacy, according to a report published by Reuters.
Read also: Meta to end Instagram-Messenger cross-app chats
Meta, well known for providing impeccable encryption on WhatsApp, its messaging app, emphasises that encryption is crucial for safeguarding users against potential threats such as hackers, fraudsters, and criminals.
The implementation of end-to-end encryption has sparked debates between companies and governments.
In September this year, the British government urged Meta not to introduce encryption on Instagram and Facebook Messenger without incorporating safety measures to protect children from sexual abuse.
The announcement comes on the heels of Meta’s decision to put an end to its cross-platform messaging service that allowed users to simultaneously manage the chats of their Messenger and Instagram accounts from one platform.
The company informed its users on, 9to5Google, the newly developed Instagram support page, stating that its cross-platform messaging service will soon be discontinued.
The cross-platform communication service was introduced by the company three years ago in 2020. However, with this unfortunate development, users will have to use the app whose friends they would like to chat with.
Nevertheless, the decision to introduce end-to-end encryption was taken even before Meta took down the cross-platform messaging service without specifying a reason.
