Meta to Implement End to End Encyption for Facebook Messages

The social media platform will begin encrypting messages on Facebook and Instagram by default, the Wall Street Journal reported on Dec. 6, citing people familiar with the matter. WSJ reports that Facebook will begin automatically converting Facebook users' messages to end-to-end encryption starting this week, with the change over several weeks.

The report suggests that Instagram direct messages will also switch to this default encryption in the future, possibly in the new year. Mehta did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment on the report. The change is that Facebook and Instagram users do not need to change the encryption feature, which ensures that it can only be read by the sender and recipient.

Meta, which encrypts messages on its WhatsApp platform, said encryption helps users stay safe from hackers and criminals. End-to-end encryption has been a bone of contention between companies and governments. The British government had urged Meta back in September not to roll out encryption on Instagram and Facebook Messenger without safety measures to protect children from sexual abuse.