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Mark Zuckerberg Says Facebook Will Shift To Emphasize Encrypted Ephemeral Messages (theverge.com)

Posted by msmash on from the up-next dept.

Facebook will increasingly shift its focus away from public posts to encrypted, ephemeral communications on its trio of messaging apps, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said today in a significant new blog post. From a report: In a 3,200-word missive, Zuckerberg says that encryption will be one of the keys to Facebook's future -- and that the company is willing to be banned in countries that refuse to let it operate as a result. "As I think about the future of the internet, I believe a privacy-focused communications platform will become even more important than today's open platforms," Zuckerberg writes. "Today we already see that private messaging, ephemeral stories, and small groups are by far the fastest growing areas of online communication." [...] "I believe the future of communication will increasingly shift to private, encrypted services where people can be confident what they say to each other stays secure and their messages and content won't stick around forever," Zuckerberg says. "This is the future I hope we will help bring about."

7 of 99 comments (clear)

  1. Does Facebook scan conversations? by SkOink · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I've always assumed that Facebook reads all messages to improve its ad targeting. If so, isn't that fundamentally incompatible with the concept of encrypted messages? Or do they just mean 'encrypted to and from Facebook.'

    --
    ---- I'll take you in a Hunt deathmatch any day.
    1. Re:Does Facebook scan conversations? by Lab+Rat+Jason · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Notice the article didn't say "end to end" encryption. Just ephemeral... and even then, it's only ephemeral to you and the recipient... not the middle man.

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      Which has more power: the hammer, or the anvil?
    2. Re:Does Facebook scan conversations? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      They record every keystroke. Even what you type and delete is kept for eternity.

  2. Uh Hunh..... by Zorro · · Score: 4, Insightful

    FB has already proven they will do ANYTHING for a Dolllar. Nothing willl change they will just hide it better.

  3. So, Mr. "Dumb Fucks" is suddenly... by geekmux · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...concerned about privacy?

    That's almost as funny as trying to convince us to believe him.

  4. Lots of weaselly language by bagofbeans · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Have confidence, expect... weasel words:

    ...people can be confident what they say to each other stays secure

    Private interactions. People should have ... confidence that no one else can access what they share.

    People should expect that we will do everything we can...

    People should expect that we won't store sensitive data in countries with weak...

    People expect their private communications to be secure

    And finally, the money quote:

    We have a responsibility to work with law enforcement and to help prevent these wherever we can.

    Not so, Mr Z. FB is not an arm of law enforcement. FB has a responsibility to respond to judicial warrants only.

  5. Idea! by duke_cheetah2003 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Encrypt ALL of Facebook, every page, every picture, every word. And lose the key. This would be a great improvement to the site.