X Pauses Encrypted DMs for Improvements

X Suspends Encrypted Direct Messages

X (formerly Twitter) has announced a temporary pause on its encrypted direct message (DM) feature. The social media platform stated it is working on improvements to the service.

An announcement from X's engineering team confirmed that users can still access their existing encrypted messages. However, sending new encrypted DMs is currently unavailable. X has not yet provided a timeline for when the feature will be reinstated.

Elon Musk, after acquiring Twitter, outlined plans to enhance direct messages and rival privacy-focused messaging apps like Signal. The encrypted DM feature launched in 2023 for verified users but had limitations.

Known Limitations of Encrypted DMs

• No support for group chats.
• Encryption limited to text and links, excluding media.
• Lack of protection against man-in-the-middle attacks.
• Encrypted conversations not transferable to new devices.

The pause suggests X is addressing these drawbacks to provide a more robust and secure messaging experience. The company's previous announcement on the feature can be found here: X Engineering Announcement. Musk's earlier statements on his plans for Twitter's DMs can be found here: TechCrunch Article. Details about the initial rollout of encrypted DMs can be found here: TechCrunch Article on Encrypted DM Launch.