X Unveils Encrypted Chat for Private Messaging
▼ Summary
– X has launched Chat, an encrypted upgrade to its direct messaging service that includes video and voice calls, disappearing messages, and file sharing.
– The new Chat feature is available now on iOS and the web, with an Android version coming soon, and it replaces X’s previous messaging system.
– Chat supports end-to-end encryption for messages and files but does not protect message metadata and offers no defense against man-in-the-middle attacks.
– Additional privacy options include disappearing messages, screenshot notifications or blocking, and the ability to edit or delete messages.
– X first introduced encrypted DMs in 2023, paused the feature in May for improvements, and has now relaunched it as Chat.
X has officially launched its new Chat feature, a comprehensive upgrade to the platform’s direct messaging system that introduces end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for private conversations. This significant enhancement also brings support for video and voice calls, disappearing messages, and secure file sharing, marking a major step forward in user privacy on the social media platform.
The rollout for Chat began on Friday and is currently accessible to users on iOS and the web. An Android version is expected to follow in the near future. This new service replaces the previous messaging system entirely, although the company has confirmed that existing message histories will be migrated over to the new interface.
With end-to-end encryption activated, the contents of messages and shared files are secured so that only the sender and intended recipient can read them. It is important to note, however, that this protection does not extend to message metadata. Information such as who is participating in the conversation and the timestamps of messages remains unencrypted. Furthermore, X has been transparent about a current limitation: the system does not safeguard against potential man-in-the-middle attacks. The company acknowledges that if a malicious insider or X itself were to compromise an encrypted chat, users would have no immediate way of detecting the intrusion. Plans are in development to introduce future tools that will allow users to verify message authenticity and confirm device identities.
A suite of additional privacy controls gives users more command over their interactions. The disappearing messages function allows you to set a timer for conversations to automatically vanish after a predetermined duration. You can also choose to receive an alert whenever someone takes a screenshot within a chat, or you can activate a setting that prevents screenshots from being taken altogether. The platform supports message editing and deletion after sending, and it now facilitates voice and video calls directly within the app. The ability to send voice notes is another feature slated for a future update.
This launch follows an initial test of encrypted direct messages that X, then operating under the name Twitter, introduced in 2023. The feature was temporarily paused this past May as the company focused on making substantial improvements. The newly released Chat appears to be the culmination of that development work, delivering a more robust and feature-rich private messaging experience.
(Source: The Verge)
