TikTok doesn’t add end-to-end encryption for direct messages, the report says

TikTok will not introduce end-to-end encryption of direct messages (DMs) on its platform, according to a new report from the source and the BBC. The social media giant says end-to-end encryption makes users safer, as it believes the technology can prevent police and security forces from intercepting messages when needed.

TikTok told those who released it that this was a deliberate decision to differentiate itself from competitors and protect users, especially young people, from harm.

With end-to-end encryption, only the sender and receiver of a direct message can see its contents.

The company said direct messages are still protected by standard encryption, similar to services like Gmail. Only authorized employees have access to direct messages, and only in certain circumstances, such as in response to a legitimate legal request or a report of malicious users.

End-to-end blocking is a default technology used in popular apps like Signal, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger (for 1:1 phone chats), Apple Messages, and Google Messages.