Facebook is reportedly testing end to end Encryption for messages along with a Snapchat like technology that will allow users to send secret messages that can self destruct later.
“We’ve heard from you that there are times when you want additional safeguards – perhaps when discussing private information like an illness or a health issue with trusted friends and family, or sending financial information to an accountant,” Facebook said in a blog post.
Facebook further added, “To enable you to do this we are starting to test the ability to create one-to-one secret conversations in Messenger that will be end-to-end encrypted and which can only be read on one device of the person you’re communicating with. That means the messages are intended just for you and the other person – not anyone else, including us. Within a secret conversation, you can also choose to set a timer to control the length of time each message you send remains visible within the conversation. Our technology uses the Signal Protocol developed by Open Whisper Systems.”
Starting a secret conversation with someone is optional and can only be read on one device. Also, rich content like GIFs and videos, making payments, or other popular Messenger features are not supported as of now, Facebook said.
Currently, Facebook is testing the feature and gathering feedback to improve it. So expect a month or two (or even more) before a stable version of the feature rolled out for all of us.