In what seems like Twitter is working towards introducing end-to-end encryption for direct messages (DMs) sent on the micro-blogging site, the new company CEO replied to famed app researcher Jane Manchun Wong with a "wink" when she tweeted that Twitter is bringing back end-to-end encrypted DMs for Twitter on Android.
"Seeing signs of the feature being worked on in Twitter for Android," Wong posted in a tweet. Her post was accompanied by code strings highlighting references to encryption keys.
It should be noted that the micro-blogging started working on encrypted DMs for Twitter back in 2018 under the moniker "secret conversations". However, encrypted DMs for Twitter never saw the light of the day.
earlier in May, tech billionaire Musk suggested that Twitter DMs should be end-to-end-encrypted so that the conversations can't be snooped upon. Social media platforms are vulnerable to hacking and cyber-attacks and Twitter is no exception. End-to-end encryption (E2EE) has become a norm these days and it was popularised by Meta-owned WhatsApp which introduced end-to-end encryption to every form of communication on the platform in 2016.
Currently, DMs on Twitter are not end-to-end encrypted and according to Musk, the encryption should be like the Signal app.
In E2EE, the data is encrypted on the sender's system or device, and only the intended recipient can decrypt it, thus, removing the chances of tampering the data by an internet service provider (ISP), application service provider, hacker or any other entity or service.
Meanwhile, the new Twitter chief announced on Wednesday that the suspended Twitter blue tick subscription will be relaunched on November 29. Sharing the update on Twitter Musk wrote, "Punting relaunch of Blue Verified to November 29th to make sure that it is rock solid." The social media platform started charging $8 to users who wanted that premium blue tick verification badge. However, several fake "verified" accounts mushroomed on Twitter forcing the platform to reverse its decision.