Twitter has finally launched its long-awaited encrypted direct messaging feature for verified users, including those who subscribe to Twitter Blue and belong to a “Verified Organization.” However, this exclusivity has left privacy-focused users disappointed, as the feature has some significant limitations.
One such limitation is that both parties must be verified to have an encrypted chat, which could exclude a large portion of Twitter users. It has been reported that Twitter has not clarified whether this restriction will remain in place or be lifted in the future.
Additionally, the encrypted messaging feature does not support group messages and can only handle links, not media files. Moreover, Twitter has not provided a direct way to report encrypted messages. Instead, users are advised to report problematic accounts separately if they encounter issues with an encrypted conversation participant, according to the help page. As per Mashable, this could potentially hinder the security of the feature as it does not provide an adequate method to address concerns.
Twitter confirmed that the encryption works across platforms. However, the recipient must follow the sender to enable encryption. Alternatively, encryption can be activated if the user has previously chatted with the sender or accepted their DM request. If users meet the requirements for an encrypted conversation, the sender can enable encryption through a toggle on the new chat screen.
Overall, while this feature is a step in the right direction, Twitter still has some work to do to ensure its messaging service is secure for all users, not just those who are verified.