According to The Guardian, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, does not intend to implement end-to-end encryption (E2EE) by default on Messenger and Instagram until 2023.
Last year, the firm integrated Messenger and Instagram chats as part of its ambition to build a single messaging system across all of its platforms. While communications exchanged over Messenger and Instagram can be E2EE, that option isn't enabled by default — and probably won't be until 2023. WhatsApp already includes E2EE functionality by default.
Antigone Davis, Meta's head of safety, attributed the delay to user safety concerns in a piece on The Telegraph. Because E2EE means that only the sender and recipient will see their discussions, Meta wants to make sure that this doesn't interfere with the platform's ability to assist deter illegal conduct, according to Davis. Davis writes that once E2EE is made available by default, the business will "use a combination of non-encrypted data across our apps, account information, and user reports" to help keep them safe, all while "assisting public safety initiatives."
Meta stated in a blog post earlier this year that default E2EE would be accessible on Instagram and Messenger "sometime in 2022 at the very least." But, according to Davis, Meta wants to "get this right," therefore the film's release date will be delayed until 2023.
The UK's Online Safety Bill, which goes into force in 2023, will also compel online platforms to protect minors from harm and to address abusive content as soon as possible. This could stymie Facebook's intentions to enable E2EE by default, given the UK's Home Secretary, Priti Patel, has already denounced its use. According to a BBC story, Patel believes E2EE will make it more difficult to prevent child abuse online, noting, "Sadly, at a time when we need to be taking greater action... Facebook is still pursuing E2EE ideas that jeopardize the wonderful work and progress that has already been accomplished."
Last year, the United States joined the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India, and Japan in calling for local law enforcement to have backdoor encryption access, allowing authorities to examine encrypted communications and files if a warrant is issued.