Facebook Adds End-To-End Encryption To Voice And Video Calls On Messenger

Facebook has announced that it has introduced new end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to enhance privacy for one-to-one voice and video calls on its Messenger platform. This expands on the messaging platform’s current encryption feature that has been implemented to its text chats since 2016 under the “Secret Conversation” option.

Although it is worth noting that the new E2EE feature for voice and video calls on Messenger would not be activated by default. Much like the existing one-to-one encrypted text messaging mode, users are required to manually opt into the feature when initiating a call with another person. Facebook is ensuring that all text and calls that are under E2EE are kept private between the user and the individual that they’re communicating with.

Introduced alongside encrypted voice and video calls is a minor update to its “disappearing messages” feature. This time around, users can choose to have chats designated as such to expire as soon as five seconds after it is viewed. Previously, disappearing messages can originally be set to vanish either after a minute or up to 24 hours. 

Additionally, Facebook also revealed that it is running a limited test for other encryption-based features to select users at this current time. These include E2EE enhanced group chats and calls between “friends and family that already have an existing chat thread or are already connected.” The social network says it is planning to implement the same limited test to Instagram’s direct messaging feature as well, but did not provide any further details regarding it.

Interestingly, Facebook also noted in its blog post that E2EE has become “the industry standard” for messaging services. However, despite characterising it as such, the company ironically continues to feature encrypted conversations as an opt-in experience on Messenger – unlike its subsidiary private messaging platform WhatsApp, which actually implements E2EE as a standard to chats since its launch.

Trump Calls Bitcoin A Scam, Claims It Competes With The US Dollar

Former US President Donald Trump has described bitcoin as a “scam” and claimed that the cryptocurrency competes with the US dollar. Unsurprisingly, he said he wanted the dollar to be “the currency of the world”.

“Bitcoin, it just seems like a scam,” Trump said on Fox Business, according to the BBC. “I don’t like it because it’s another currency competing against the dollar.”

This isn’t the first time that the controversial “America First” politician has spoken against cryptocurrency. In 2019, back when he was US president, he slammed cryptocurrencies, including Facebook’s proposed digital coin Libra.

According to Reuters, he wrote on Twitter, “I am not a fan of Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies, which are not money, and whose value is highly volatile and based on thin air.” Trump, of course, is now banned from the social media platform due to his public support for insurrectionists who attacked the US Capitol on 6 January.

While his claim that bitcoin competes with the US dollar will certainly be disputed by experts, he’s not alone in carrying a dim view of cryptocurrencies. Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said cryptocurrencies “have no intrinsic value” and pointedly told potential investors to “buy them only if you’re prepared to lose all your money.”

Ironically, Trump’s archnemesis, China, has embarked on a massive clampdown on cryptocurrency even though the country is a major global hub for bitcoin mining. Furthermore, crypto-enthusiast Elon Musk’s Tesla pulled an awkward 180 on its decision to accept bitcoin as payment for its cars.

Malaysian Telcos Offering Free Calls For Aidilfitri; From 10pm Tonight Until 10am Tomorrow

The Minister of Communications and Multimedia, Saifuddin Abdullah has recently announced that local telcos will be offering Malaysians with free calls for the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration. He revealed that this effort is organised by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), with the collaboration of various mobile service providers such as Celcom, Digi, Maxis, redONE, TM, Time dotCom, Tune Talk, U Mobile, Yoodo, and Yes 4G.

With the recently implemented Movement Control Order (MCO) nationwide, any form of public gatherings for celebrations and such are strictly prohibited – as part of the updated SOPs determined by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and the National Security Council (MKN). In the interest to elevate the spirits of all Malaysians for tomorrow’s Aidilfitri festivities, the aforementioned telcos will be offering customers free unlimited voice calls starting from 10:00 PM tonight on 12 May, until 10:00 AM tomorrow morning on 13 May 2021.

However, Saifuddin noted that the free calls are subject to the terms and conditions determined by their respective telcos. Users are recommended to refer to their service providers for any clarification, he added.

Do keep in mind that this joint effort only applies to voice calls during the duration – including calls between the telco companies mentioned earlier. However, it’s worth mentioning that those who wish to use their data for video calls and so on for tomorrow should utilise the free 1GB daily internet provision from all local telcos, which is currently ongoing until 31 July 2021.