TikTok will not introduce end-to-end encryption, saying it makes users less safe

Post by brainzap » Wed, Mar 04, 2026, 11:54 AM UTC

debazel wrote: post #39

xeckr wrote: post #22

Brilliant. They're repackaging the argument governments have long made about E2EE being dangerous to children.

Children are just too effect of a tool when building a surveillance state. We should have banned children from owning open computers a long time ago just like we do with Alcohol, Driving licenses, etc. Instead children would own special devices that are locked down and tagged with a "underage" flag when interacting with online services, while adults could continue as normal. We already heavily restrict the freedom of…

Post by gzread » Wed, Mar 04, 2026, 12:00 PM UTC

giancarlostoro wrote: post #251

throwaway290 wrote: post #244

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> nobody should believe for a second that WhatsApp or FB messages are truly E2EE That's interesting. You think all firms that audited WhatsApp and Signal protocol used by WhatsApp and all programmers who worked there for decades and can see a lie and leak if it was true are all crooks? valid opinion I guess, but I won't call it "no one should believe for a second (curious you didn't mention Telegram, it is actually m…

I forget if its WhatsApp that technically lets you sync chats in unencrypted form to iCloud which is the “loophole” around this, though you can lockdown your iCloud even tighter, not sure it Apple can do much if you fully lock down your iCloud, not sure if this has been legally tested? Its not a very advertised feature its just a setting.

Post by gzread » Wed, Mar 04, 2026, 12:02 PM UTC

danlitt wrote: post #226

michaelmior wrote: post #214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, but this leaves the only way to identify this behavior as by reporting from a minor. I'm not saying I trust TikTok to only do good things with access to DMs, but I think it's a fair argument in this scenario to say that a platform has a better opportunity to protect minors if messages aren't encrypted. I'm not saying no E2E messaging apps should exist, but maybe it doesn't need to for minors in social media apps…

> I think it's a fair argument in this scenario to say that a platform has a better opportunity to protect minors if messages aren't encrypted Would it be a fair argument to say the police have a better opportunity to prevent crimes if they can enter your house without a warrant? People are paranoid about this sort of thing not because they think law enforcement is more effective when it is constrained. But how easil…

Post by gzread » Wed, Mar 04, 2026, 12:02 PM UTC

danlitt wrote: post #219

trashb wrote: post #215

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In that case don't use Tiktok dm's to discuss your sexuality. I think it is strange that people feel like they have to be able to talk on sensitive topics over every interface they can get their hands on. Similarly in "traditional" media you may not want to discuss such private conversation on a radio broadcast. Perhaps you would rather discuss it on the phone or over snail mail as there is more of an expectation of…

> there is more of an expectation of privacy on those medium What does the "p" in "pm" stand for?

Post by oarsinsync » Wed, Mar 04, 2026, 12:03 PM UTC

giancarlostoro wrote: post #248

throw0101c wrote: post #242

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Tiktok has direct messages, they don't even call them private. It may not be called that, but what are users expecting? Some folks may later be surprised when a warrant gets issued (e.g., from a divorce judge).

If you are a grown adult and dont do research on “messaging apps” (which Tik Tok is not) then thats really on you.