Facebook Messenger Now Offers Encryption for Your Calls

Facebook has announced the option to encrypt your voice and video calls through Facebook Messenger, with plans to extend that encryption to group chat later.

Starting Friday, you can opt to use end-to-end encryption for the calls you make in Facebook Messenger and make your communications more private. Text chats in Facebook Messenger have had this option since 2016, but it's new for calls. Facebook's announcement notes that a large uptick in calls made via Messenger over the past year has prompted it to expand its encryption coverage.

Facebook claims that, when you turn encryption on, "nobody else, including Facebook, can see or listen to what’s sent or said." It also says that you'll still be able to report an encrypted message if you need to. Facebook also has stated that it's begun testing these encryption features for group chats and plans to begin rolling them out in the future. Disappearing Messages controls have been updated, as well, to allow for a wider variety of timer options—from five seconds to up to 24 hours.

Opt-in encryption also is being looked at for Instagram messages, with a limited test for adults in certain countries planned. This will let you choose if you want to protect your one-on-one conversations in Instagram. However, encrypting your Instagram DMs will require both users to follow each other or have an existing chat first.

End-to-end encryption for Facebook Messenger calls and updated Disappearing Messages controls are available now. Group chat and Instagram DM encryptions will begin testing "in the coming weeks."