Twitter, how the first version of paid encrypted DMs works

Twitter announced the functioning of the first version of encrypted DMs (messages). of the platform. In particular, to send and receive messages, it will be necessary pay the social network itself. This mode could cause discussion, because other platforms such as WhatsApp, Messenger and iMessage already have encryption in place but for free.

Twitter and paid encrypted DMs, that’s how it works

According to what was published by the blue social network, encrypted DMs are only available if you are a verified user (someone who pays for Twitter Blue), a verified organization (an organization that pays $1,000 a month), or an affiliate of a verified organization (that costs $50 a month per person). Both the sender and recipient must be using the latest version of the Twitter app (mobile and web). And the recipient of the encrypted DM must follow the sender, have sent a message to the sender in the past, or accept a DM request from the sender himself.

How to find out who has the encryption feature in use? It’s simple: in an encrypted conversation, a small one will be seen padlock icon next to the avatar of the person you’re chatting with. Encrypted DMs will be separated from unencrypted ones.

Limitations of the new feature

However, there are a number of limitations with encrypted DMs on Twitter. They can only be sent in individual conversations, however the social network has said that it will soon bring that feature to groups. You can only send text and links per message. AND Twitter warns that it has no protections against man-in-the-middle attacks. “As a result, if someone, such as a malicious insider or Twitter itself, were to compromise an encrypted conversation as a result of mandatory legal process, neither the sender nor the recipient would know,” Twitter says.

The CEO Elon Musk strongly wanted the encrypted DMs, which are part of the project “Twitter 2.0” which he had already exposed a few months ago to his employees.