TikTok won't add end-to-end encryption to DMs

"TikTok has told the that it will not protect direct messages sent in the app with end-to-end encryption, because it believes it will make users less safe. In a briefing about security at its London office, TikTok said that implementing the technology would prevent its safety teams or law enforcement from being able to read messages if needed."

"With end-to-end encryption, only the sender and receiver are able to read messages exchanged between them. The technology isn't typically implemented in China, where ByteDance is located, though TikTok didn't say whether its parent company had an influence on its decision."

"TikTok said messages sent through its app are still protected by standard encryption and only authorized employees will be able to access them if the app gets a request from authorities or gets user reports for harmful behavior."

TikTok has decided against implementing end-to-end encryption for its direct messaging feature, stating that such technology would prevent safety teams and law enforcement from accessing messages when needed. The company frames this as a deliberate choice to protect users, particularly younger ones. Messages on TikTok remain protected by standard encryption with access limited to authorized employees handling authority requests or user reports of harmful behavior. End-to-end encryption, which restricts message visibility to only sender and receiver, is not typically used in China where TikTok's parent company ByteDance operates. Multiple competing platforms including WhatsApp, Signal, iMessage, and Telegram offer end-to-end encrypted messaging. Uncertainty remains regarding whether TikTok's US entity, now operating as the TikTok USDS Joint Venture with majority non-Chinese ownership, will maintain this same encryption policy.

Read at Engadget