Since Elon Musk’s arrival, Twitter has been going through various changes that he hopes will improve the platform. For sample, according to an independent researcher Jane Manchun Wong, it appears as if the firm is working on a recent capability for the Android application.
She spotted changes in as it turns out Twitter’s code indicating a return of end-to-end encrypted direct messages (DM). Twitter started making Twitter DMs more safe in 2018 but abandoned these efforts.
This function is a primary selling point for secure messaging apps like Signal, whose popularity has risen significantly in the past few years. Journalists and protesters in authoritarian governments like Russia, Iran, and Belarus employ encrypted messages to avoid surveillance.
Wong’s revelation
Twitter would have been the forefront of guarded messaging if it had launched theatencrypted DM feature. But the project stopped without explanation until recently when Wong spotted Twitter as a matter of fact working on the function.
She tweeted a screenshot of Twitter’s code‘, it matches the one on the recipient phoneIfthe The second screenshot has a conversion key, a security number generated by the visitor’s encryption keys. , which shows keys and theirencryptionapplications in end-to-end encrypted conversations.end-to-end encryption will be established,’ the message reads.
As you may know, Musk replied to Wong’s tweets with a winking face emoji – a subtle confirmation. In fact, this might be the modus operandi after the company laid off its communication staff and no longer responded to comments.
End-to-end risks
However, unlike the relaunch of the Twitter Blue subscription continue month, the end-to-end encryption shouldn’t be rushed because of the apparent risks. Undoubtedly, Elon Musk is visionary.
For instance, Meta has been developing end-to-end encryption (E2EE)It’s worth noting . in its Messenger since 2016that Recently, it has expanded the E2EE check to individual Messager chats.
The from said the delay addressed concerns that the security option may shield children’s abusers firm detention. Also, Meta wanted to introduce AI and machine learning tech to scan non-encrypted parts of the platform to detect malicious activities. Moreover, it wanted to ensure the abuse-reporting function still works amid encryption.
It’s worth noting that Rushing into as it turns out it will raise concerns about how well-built and encrypted the function is. In a nutshell, besides the technicalities of introducing E2EE, certain complicating . should be consideredfactors
As you may know, This includes Lea Kissner, the chief information security officer, who would have understood the project better. Plus, it’s unclear if remaining workforce can handle the complex option with the departure ofthekey staff after the recent purge.
in theMovingright direction
Indeed, Nonetheless, Musk seems optimistic as it turns out that the encrypted option is a step in the right direction. Actually, He recently tweeted, ‘X target of Twitter DMs is to superset Signal.’ And to respond to a concern about Twitter merging with telecommunication or replacing WhatsApp, he said, ‘the will be the everything software.’
In this case, ‘X’ refers to Musk’s plan to make Twitter a super app that combines social networking, payments in modern times , entertainment, and more. In fact, He recently said that Twitter might soon allow people to send cash, hold cash balances, and even have high-yield cash industry accounts.
