Facebook is rolling out optional end-to-end encrypted voice and video calls on Facebook Messenger, along with updated controls for disappearing messages.

The social media major provided users with the option to have their one-on-one text chats be end-to-end encrypted since 2016. It is now expanding the option to voice and video calls.

“In the past year, we’ve seen 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 (end-to-end encrypted) so you can secure your audio and video calls with this same technology, if you choose,” Facebook said in a blog post.

Other features

It has also updated the expiring message feature within its end-to-end encrypted chats with more time limits.

“People don’t always want or need their messages to stick around and the timer controls let someone decide when their messages expire in the chat,” it said.

The setting has been updated with more options in terms of the amount of time before all new messages disappear, from five seconds to as long as 24 hours.

In the coming weeks, the tech giant will begin testing end-to-end encryption for group chats on Messenger including voice and video calls.

It will also begin a test for delivery controls that work with end-to-end encrypted chats.

“That way, you can prevent unwanted interactions by deciding who can reach your chats list, who goes to your requests folder, and who can’t message you at all,” it explained.

It will also begin testing opt-in end-to-end encryption for Instagram DMs (direct messages).

“We’ll also kick off a limited test with adults in certain countries that lets them opt-in to end-to-end encrypted messages and calls for one-on-one conversations on Instagram,” it said.

Similar to how Messenger works today, users will need to have an existing chat or be following each other to start an end-to-end encrypted DM.

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