Facebook rolls out end-to-end encryption for calls on Messenger, along with new features

San Francisco: Facebook has announced its decision to roll out a new option to make voice and video calls end-to-end encrypted on Messenger, along with updated controls for disappearing messages.

End-to-end encryption is already widely used by apps like WhatsApp to keep personal conversations safe from hackers and criminals.

Ruth Kricheli, Director of Product Management, Messenger, in a blog post said: "People expect their messaging apps to be secure and private, and with these new features we're giving them more control over how private they want their calls and chats to be."

"The content of your messages and calls in an end-to-end encrypted conversation is protected from the moment it leaves your device to the moment it reaches the receiver's device," the company explained.

"This means that nobody else, including Facebook, can see or listen to what is sent or said. Keep in mind, you can report an end-to-end encrypted message to us if something's wrong," it added.

The company said it will also kick off a limited test with adults in certain countries that lets them opt-in for end-to-end encrypted messages and calls for one-on-one conversations on Instagram.

The company said since 2016, they have offered the option to secure one-on-one text chats with end-to-end encryption.

In the past year, it saw a surge in the use of audio and video calling with more than 150 million video calls a day on Messenger.

"Now we're introducing calling to this chat mode so you can secure your audio and video calls with this same technology if you choose," Kricheli said.

The company has also updated the expiring message feature within end-to-end encrypted chats.

In the coming weeks, some people may get access to more test features within these fully encrypted chats that give people greater privacy and security in their conversations.