Although the battle over encryption between the FBI and Apple has currently subsided, the issue of privacy and security in technology continues. Today, WhatsApp is announcing that all messages, photos, phone calls and videos sent over its messaging app will be encrypted end-to-end. This means that no one can access any communications apart from the people in the conversation. This means if WhatsApp is subpoenaed by government for information, WhatsApp will not be able to help them as it simply cannot help them.
WhatsApp has rolled out end-to-end encryption in various forms over the last few years, but has never fully deployed a solution. The announcement today applies to all platforms, allowing WhatsApp users on iOS, Android, Windows Phone and more to communicate with no fear of their messaging being intercepted.
By most reports, WhatsApp is the largest messaging service in the world with over a billion users. Going forward, all of the private communications taking place on the service will be truly private.
Apple’s fight with the FBI over the San Bernardino iPhone spiralled into a (inter)national controversy, so it will be interesting to see if WhatsApp’s move to encryption causes a similar debate. WhatsApp has complied with court orders in the past to release information from its servers with a warrant.
As WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, many people never expected the company to add such security features ever. The move shows the company is truly running autonomous of its parent company. In the interview with Wired, WhatsApp founder Brian Acton said its all about freedoms to let people express themselves.
The secure update is rolling out to all WhatsApp platforms now. Download WhatsApp for free from the iOS App Store.
