Elon Musk Admits Private Messages on X Aren't Encrypted by Default After Accusing Meta's WhatsApp of Being 'Spyware,' Blaming 'Clumsy' Implementation - Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META)

You’re here And SpaceX CEO Elon Musk confirmed that private messages on XPreviously Twitterare not encrypted by default, after taking a look at Meta Platforms Inc. META WhatsAppcalling it “spyware.”

What happened:A user from X questioned WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption after noticing targeted ads on Instagram following a private conversation about bags. Musk responded to the question, calling WhatsApp “spyware.”

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In a separate interaction, Elon Musk was asked about encryption of direct messages (DMs) on X. The tech billionaire conceded that the encryption feature for individual messages on the social media platform is not enabled by default and called its implementation “clunky.”

He also noted that the company is working on improving the feature and expanding it to group messages while assuring users that audio and video calls on X are automatically encrypted.

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Why is this important?:Musk’s latest comments add to his previous criticism of Meta’s privacy practices. In April of this year, the tech mogul mocked Meta after a data outage FacebookInstagram and WhatsApp, attributing the phenomenon to the fact that the platforms were “distracted by selling their users’ data.”

In May, Elon Musk again targeted Meta’s WhatsApp messaging service, saying it was “unreliable” after a Twitter engineer alleged that the platform was spying on him through his phone’s microphone. Meta eventually responded to the initial complaint, citing an “Android bug” as the cause.

Musk has also been a vocal advocate for end-to-end encryption. In April 2022, before acquiring Twitter for $44 billion, he said Twitter should have end-to-end encryption for its direct messages to ensure security, similar to Signal.

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Disclaimer: This content was produced in part with the assistance of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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