The end-to-end encryption offered to WhatsApp users is still far from reaching its members in the Meta family despite the company’s promises. The Guardian reports that end-to-end encryption will not reach Facebook and Instagram apps by default by 2023, and not by mistake, and not because development and testing have so far failed to ensure service by 2022 as previously promised – but to ensure it is done right by people Meta.
“We are taking the time to do it right and we do not plan to end the global launch of end-to-end encryption by default in all of our messaging services until sometime in 2023,” she wrote Antigone Davis, Head of the Security Division. “As a company that connects billions of people around the world and has built industry-leading technology, we are determined to protect people’s private communications and keep people safe online.”
The main problem, according to Meta, is the need to ensure that offensive messages can be detected even after the end-to-end encryption is enabled, especially to prevent harm to children. The company says that they want to make sure that the encryption does not harm the company’s ability to detect such activity in particular, and criminal activity in general.
Meta is facing a demand from many countries around the world – including the United States, Britain, Japan, India, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – to leave a back door open for law enforcement agencies that can read encrypted messages in case of fear of criminal or abusive activity requiring government and police intervention.
The meta does not confirm this so far, but Davis noted that after enabling end-to-end encryption by default in all company apps, “you will use a combination of unencrypted data in all of our apps, account information and user reports to help keep them safe, all while assisting public safety efforts.” .