Twitter Working on End-to-End Encryption for Direct Messages

[MacRumors]

Twitter is working on end-to-end encryption for direct messages sent over the social network, according to app researcher Jane Manchun Wong.

"Seeing signs of the feature being worked on in Twitter for Android," wrote Wong in a tweet, which was accompanied by code strings highlighting references to encryption keys.

Twitter CEO Elon Musk later replied to Wong's tweet with a winking face emoji – a heavy hint that the feature is indeed in development.

End-to-end encrypted DMs would put Twitter's messaging platform on the level of apps like Signal and WhatsApp, ensuring that a conversation between users is only ever seen by those sending the messages and not a surveilling third party.

Twitter began work on encryption for Twitter DMs back in 2018 under the moniker "secret conversations," but the feature never materialized. Musk has previously championed privacy-centric encrypted messaging platform Signal, suggesting he is making secure communications a priority for the service.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1592761152966397953

In related developments, Musk has said that Twitter's $8-per-month subscription plan will relaunch later than originally planned. Twitter Blue Verified will now return on November 29, "to make sure that it is rock solid," Musk announced via tweet late Tuesday.

Article Link: Twitter Working on End-to-End Encryption for Direct Messages

 

[yellow8]

The future has never been blurrier for Twitter! The force is clouded.

 

[WiiDSmoker]

Regardless of whatever the hell is happening with the takeover, end to end encryption is a good thing.

 

[Jason J. Schneider]

Wasn't Moxie Marlinspike worked with Twitter, back when Whispers Systems were acquired by them? It's interesting that Open Whisper Systems integrated the Signal Protocol inside Skype, inside WhatsApp, inside Google Allo (back when it was still a thing) but haven't worked on any integration inside Twitter. I just find it interesting.

 

[Koni17]

I'm surprised Elon still has engineers there that want to work for him, his feuds with Twitter engineers regarding development he apparently doesn't understand, and the subsequent firings can't be good for employee morale.

 

[haytherecharlie]

For all the insanity that’s been going on in the media, I really feel like Twitter will get better over the coming months / years. Elon is 100% an ego maniac, but he will bring back Vine (which could actually compete with TikTok) he will simplify and clean up the infrastructure and then be able to use one of the largest databases of human nonsense to train his AIs.

 

[shenfrey]

I'm surprised Elon still has engineers there that want to work for him, his feuds with Twitter engineers regarding development he apparently doesn't understand, and the subsequent firings can't be good for employee morale.

Whilst i do believe you should be able to have a constructive argument with your boss, however heated, and not risk being fired. The outlet he chose to do this however, is where I think the sacking comes from. It was very unprofessional calling your boss out on Twitter, instead of going directly to the source and speaking with him about the issue, even if it's through a DM/Slack/Email.

 

[Deedeekay]

i TruST It COMplEtEly!!1 eL0N iz geeNUs??!!1

 

[ghotinchips]

For all the insanity that’s been going on in the media, I really feel like Twitter will get better over the coming months / years. Elon is 100% an ego maniac, but he will bring back Vine (which could actually compete with TikTok) he will simplify and clean up the infrastructure and then be able to use one of the largest databases of human nonsense to train his AIs.

Agree. With the AI part especially. There must be a covert reason behind this whole takeover.

 

[Jim Lahey]

Anyone who ever trusted any such claims linked to the likes of Twitter would have to be certifiably insane.

 

[foobarbaz]

Whilst i do believe you should be able to have a constructive argument with your boss, however heated, and not risk being fired. The outlet he chose to do this however, is where I think the sacking comes from. It was very unprofessional calling your boss out on Twitter, instead of going directly to the source and speaking with him about the issue, even if it's through a DM/Slack/Email.

Hmm. Who did really choose the outlet?

If Mr. Free Speech alleges facts in public, I would fully expect he'd welcome public disagreement, as well. Musk certainly isn't shy about sharing his unsolicited opinion and has publicly stated that cancelling people for voicing their opinion is wrong.

 

[Luis Ortega]

Elon is 100% an ego maniac, but he will bring back Vine (which could actually compete with TikTok) he will simplify and clean up the infrastructure and then be able to use one of the largest databases of human nonsense to train his AIs.

Lol…if he uses the sewer that is twitter to train his AI, he will end up with an Idiocracy.

 

[laptech]

Hmm. Who did really choose the outlet?

If Mr. Free Speech alleges facts in public, I would fully expect he'd welcome public disagreement, as well. Musk certainly isn't shy about sharing his unsolicited opinion and has publicly stated that cancelling people for voicing their opinion is wrong.

This is the problem with 'Do as I say, not as I do ' bosses such as Elon Musk who will air his concerns in public but if any of his employee's were to follow his example, nope, they get fired. He never set's a good example towards his employees.

 

[Kazgarth]

E2E is becoming the new norm.

 

[ian87w]

E2ee is good, but I'm not sure where this is heading for Twitter. What's the goal? To compete with Whatsapp? Does it matter?

 

[SoldOnApple]

An obvious move for Musk. A good move.

 

[PsykX]

Hmm. Who did really choose the outlet?

If Mr. Free Speech alleges facts in public, I would fully expect he'd welcome public disagreement, as well. Musk certainly isn't shy about sharing his unsolicited opinion and has publicly stated that cancelling people for voicing their opinion is wrong.

Of course but if my boss is all about free speech and I take him down publicly on a social network, especially after becoming viral... free speech or not, I know my security card at the entrance of my HQ is not working anymore.

 

[Sciomar]

Twitter is improving already, obviously he has a learning curve but it doesn't look like he's slowing down on its development. Gutting the dead weight was just the first of many steps.

 

[bobtem]

End-to-end? Don’t you mean Seamless?

 

[ponzicoinbro]

Most likely a fake encryption with back doors to make his Saudi and UAE investors happy.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Wasn't Moxie Marlinspike worked with Twitter, back when Whispers Systems were acquired by them? It's interesting that Open Whisper Systems integrated the Signal Protocol inside Skype, inside WhatsApp, inside Google Allo (back when it was still a thing) but haven't worked on any integration inside Twitter. I just find it interesting.

Twitter’s way of making money was ads. Having access to the DM’s allows an even more accurate model to be built for advertisers to target.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

use one of the largest databases of human nonsense to train his AIs.

Training AI’s on nonsense will lead to… ?

There’s a reason why the artistic AI’s trained on artwork instead of nonsense black and white scribbles

 

[themastermind]

I'm surprised Elon still has engineers there that want to work for him, his feuds with Twitter engineers regarding development he apparently doesn't understand, and the subsequent firings can't be good for employee morale.

Whilst i do believe you should be able to have a constructive argument with your boss, however heated, and not risk being fired. The outlet he chose to do this however, is where I think the sacking comes from. It was very unprofessional calling your boss out on Twitter, instead of going directly to the source and speaking with him about the issue, even if it's through a DM/Slack/Email.

Hmm. Who did really choose the outlet?

If Mr. Free Speech alleges facts in public, I would fully expect he'd welcome public disagreement, as well. Musk certainly isn't shy about sharing his unsolicited opinion and has publicly stated that cancelling people for voicing their opinion is wrong.

Here is the thing though - yes he called his boss out, and his boss came back and said, ok - show me some proof of what you are saying. He didn't and couldn't do that. That is the problem, he could not backup what he was saying and ultimately was just trying to embarrass Elon.

 

[laptech]

Of course but if my boss is all about free speech and I take him down publicly on a social network, especially after becoming viral... free speech or not, I know my security card at the entrance of my HQ is not working anymore.

Well if your boss was to behave in the same manner as Elon Musk, taking over a company and immediately firing all the top directors and then getting employees access to Twitter computers and accounts disabled without telling them first they are part of the 50% that will be fired then hell yes the boss should be taken down publicly. Musk is proving he is a boss that likes to dish it out but cannot take it when it is fired back at him because when it is, he fires them.

If a boss cannot handle criticism then do not go dishing it out.

 

[GeneralChang]

Elon replying with a winky face could also be an indication that he had no idea that feature was being worked on and just discovered it by reading her tweet. Or that he's got dust in his eye. Literally no telling with that guy.