Security News > 2023 > May > Twitter adds new DM features, and Musk claims encryption is here, starting today

Twitter has rolled out some quality of life updates for direct messages on the platform, and CEO Elon Musk reckons the site is to start encrypting DMs, beginning today, without providing proof that's the case.

In a tweet last night, Twitter Support announced that a couple of well-trodden DM features from other platforms were being added to Twitter.

"We are already working on improving these features - web support and better rendering for replies to media messages," Twitter Support said.

As for encrypted DMs on Twitter, Musk said in a tweet prior to the Support account's announcement last night that "Release of encrypted DMs V1.0 should happen tomorrow." The Twitter-owning billionaire said his platform's DM encryption would "Grow in sophistication rapidly," with the "Acid test" being that "I could not see your DMs even if there was a gun to my head.".

To make matters worse, Twitter has a history of less-than-stellar treatment of its user's privacy: A software bug allowed bad actors to harvest phone numbers, email addresses and account IDs for 5.4 million twitter users last year, and former Twitter security chief turned whistleblower Peiter "Mudge" Zatko revealed a bevy of security concerns at the company shortly before Musk took over.

Musk said on February 3 that "Starting today" Twitter would begin sharing ad revenue with creators, but let slip last night - a full 95 days after he said it'd be starting - that Twitter was still working on the software needed to share ad revenues.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2023/05/10/twitter_adds_new_dm_features/