Facebook Messenger is the official Facebook app that allows having text conversations with all of user's friends on the social network. (Photo : YouTube/CNET)
Facebook Messenger is now being tested with its own end-to-end encryption feature as it bids to be the world's primary messaging app across Android and iOS devices.
The move from Facebook follows after its assets in Brazil have been frozen by a judge as their WhatsApp encryption was seen as a hindrance in an ongoing criminal case investigation. WhatsApp also has end-to-end encryption which is one of the main reasons why the authorities are giving the social network giant a hard time in the first place.
The Facebook Messenger app is planned to have an end-to-end encryption feature if the initial tests prove to be successful for the select group of users. Encryption has been a thorn in between the tech industry and governments' relationship with each other as the former insists that it is beneficial for everyone.
Encrypting the communication channels of the Facebook Messenger app means that a hacker will find it hard to snoop around even if they manage to get hold of the data packets that are being sent between the two communicating parties. However, it also means government authorities will find it even harder to monitor citizens.
Users' messages sent using the Facebook Messenger with the end-to-end encryption feature will only be readable for the reader and the sender, TechCrunch has learned. Another interesting feature is that users will also be able to set some sort of expiry date for their messages which means that the data will be destroyed after a certain amount of time.
Facebook recently rolled out full end-to-end encryption for their WhatsApp application for their billions of users. The social network giant seems to have taken a side in the huge divide between those who are against encryption and those who are pro-encryption.
The Secret Conversations feature in Facebook Messenger will be made possible using the Open Whisper Systems' Signal protocal, WIRED reported. WhatsApp and Allo also use the said protocol and it seems to be very effective at encrypting the data for the apps.
Facebook is expected to rollout the end-to-end encryption feature to all of its users by September. An option to start a Secret Conversation with another user will be available by then.
