Twitter has an unlaunched 'Secret' encrypted messages feature

Buried inside Twitter's Android app is a “Secret conversation” option that if launched would allow users to send encrypted direct messages. BuriedinsideTwitter’sAndroidappisa“Secretconversation”optionthatiflaunchedwouldallowuserstosendencrypteddirectmessages.ThefeaturecouldmakeTwitterabetterhomeforsensitivecommunicationsthatoftenenduponencryptedmessagingappslikeSignal,TelegramorWhatsApp. TheencryptedDMsoptionwasfirstspottedinsidetheTwitterforAndroidapplicationpackage(APK)byJaneManchunWong.APKsoftencontaincodeforunlaunchedfeaturesthatcompaniesarequietlytestingorwillsoonmakeavailable.ATwitterspokespersondeclinedtocommentontherecord.It’sunclearhowlongitmightbebeforeTwitterofficiallylaunchesthefeature,butatleastweknowit’sbeenbuilt. TheappearanceofencryptedDMscomes18monthsafterwhistleblowerEdwardSnowdenaskedTwitterCEOJackDorseyforthefeature,whichDorseysaidwas“reasonableandsomethingwe’llthinkabout.” Twitterhasgonefrom“thinkingabout”thefeaturetoprototypingit.Thescreenshotaboveshowstheoptionstolearnmoreaboutencryptedmessaging,startasecretconversationandviewbothyourownandyourconversationpartner’sencryptionkeystoverifyasecureconnection. reasonableandsomethingwe'llthinkabout —jack(@jack)December14,2016 Twitter’sDMshavebecomeapowerfulwayforpeopletocontactstrangerswithoutneedingtheirphonenumberoremailaddress.Whetherit’stosendareporterascoop,warnsomeoneofaproblem,discussbusinessorjust“slideintotheirDMs”toflirt,Twitterhasestablishedoneofthemostopenmessagingmediums.Butwithoutencryption,thosemessagesaresubjecttosnoopingbygovernments,hackersorTwitteritself. Twitterhaslongpositioneditselfasafacilitatorofpoliticaldiscourseandevenuprisings.Butanyoneseriouslyworriedabouttheconsequencesofpoliticaldissonance,whistleblowingorleakingshouldbeusinganapplikeSignalthatoffersstrongend-to-endencryption.LaunchingencryptedDMscouldwinbacksomeofthosechange-makersandprotectthosestillonTwitter.