TikTok is setting itself apart from most other online platforms that offer messaging by stating that it won’t be introducing end-to-end encryption to ensure the privacy of direct messages.
This means that the company will be able to read messages sent between users, which is likely to cause concerns even after its US operations were separated from its Chinese owner …
Update: Added comment from TikTok below
End-to-end encryption (E2EE)
End-to-end encryption (E2EE) means that only message recipients have the ability to decrypt the content of messages. The companies that own the apps have no ability to see what is being said.
The vast majority of messaging services either use E2EE already or are making plans to do so. Both iMessage and FaceTime use E2EE, along with WhatsApp, Signal, Facebook Messenger, Google Messages, and others.
Instagram is in the process of adopting it by default. Snapchat already uses it for photos and videos and is planning to roll it out to text content also. Discord says it will soon be using it for voice and video calls.
There are a couple of oddities. Telegram is one, as it doesn’t default to E2EE, but you can enable it by switching to Secret Messages. X claims to use E2EE for DMs, but there are some who argue that this isn’t quite true.
TikTok won’t use it
However, TikTok has told BBC News that it won’t be adopting E2EE, and is attempting to pitch this as a safety benefit.
TikTok will not introduce end-to-end encryption – the controversial privacy feature used by nearly all its rivals – arguing it makes users less safe […] TikTok told the BBC it believed end-to-end encryption prevented police and safety teams from being able to read direct messages if they needed to. It confirmed its approach to the BBC in a briefing about security at its London office – saying it wanted to protect users, especially young people, from harm.
TikTok’s US operations were officially split off from its Chinese ownership earlier this year. In theory, this means that all US TikTok user data will remain within the country. However, not everyone has complete confidence in this arrangement, so the company’s refusal to adopt E2EE is leading to concerns about possible access by the Chinese government.
Others would be almost as concerned about the US government having access to the content of user messages.
The company told us its position isn’t a new one and said that privacy controls were in place.
Access to message content is strictly limited, subject to internal authorization controls, and only available to trained personnel with a demonstrated need to review the information as part of safety investigations, legal compliance or other limited circumstances.
9to5Mac’s Take
The benefits of E2EE always outweigh the drawbacks, no matter which government is involved. Any service whose messages can be read by the company is vulnerable to hacking as well as government demands for access.
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