Encrypted DMs, voice and video calling, renewed hiring: Elon Musk’s latest Twitter plans

Elon Musk’s plans for Twitter have been chaotic from the beginning – there isn’t any clear street map and the brand new Twitter proprietor has to date largely tossed round concepts about how the platform will function, particularly close to moderation. While Musk beforehand hinted at plans to revive Vine and a person suggestions system for ranking tweets, we’ve not seen an replace on this to date. Instead, Musk additionally talked about different vital additions resembling encryption for messages on the platform and doable voice and video calls. Here we have a look at among the latest developments within the Musk and Twitter saga.
Encrypted DMs
According to a recording obtained by The Verge, throughout a presentation to workers at Twitter HQ on Monday, Musk mentioned the corporate would add encryption to DMs and work on video and voice calling options. “We want to enable users to be able to communicate without worrying about their privacy, without worrying about a data breach at Twitter causing all their DMs to hit the web, or thinking that someone at Twitter might can spy on their DMs,” Musk mentioned. “Obviously that’s not going to be cool and it’s happened a few times before.”
App researcher Jane Manchun Wong beforehand uncovered a code in Twitter’s Android app that factors to encrypted DMs. Elon Musk appeared to substantiate that the characteristic is certainly being labored on by replying to the tweet with a winking emoji.
Twitter is bringing again end-to-end encrypted DMs
See indicators of the characteristic being labored on on Twitter for Android: https://t.co/YtOPHH3ntD pic.twitter.com/5VODYt3ChK
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) November 16, 2022
Encrypting messages will improve privateness on Twitter and make it tougher for cybercriminals and legislation enforcement companies to intercept messages. Apps like WhatsApp and Telegram have already carried out end-to-end encryption, and Meta has introduced that Facebook and Instagram will quickly get it too. Musk added that he has already spoken with Signal’s creator Moxie Marlinspike, who’s now “potentially willing to help” with encrypting Twitter DMs, The Verge report continued.
Voice and video calling options
The identical assembly additionally outlined plans to introduce voice and video calling options. Elon Musk mentioned that whereas Signal requires customers to share telephone numbers to make use of these options, Twitter will not must, because of its account system.
No paid verification till personalization stops
Elon Musk earlier introduced that the $8 Twitter Blue subscription can be making a comeback on November twenty ninth. But in response to a brand new tweet, issues aren’t so clear anymore: “Hold off relaunching Blue Verified until high confidence to stop counterfeiting. Will likely use different color check for organizations than individuals.”
Hold off on relaunching Blue Verified till there may be excessive confidence in stopping counterfeiting.
Will most likely use totally different colour management for organizations than people.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 22, 2022
One of the primary large adjustments Musk’s Twitter made was making the blue checkmark out there to everybody for $8. It did not go down properly in any respect, with a slew of accounts impersonating the Twitter chief and varied different accounts in consequence. Musk was pressured to show off paid verification simply two days after the launch.
Layoffs over, now it is hiring time
After shedding practically two-thirds of Twitter’s workforce since taking up, Elon Musk mentioned in a contemporary survey obtained by The Verge that the corporate is actively recruiting for roles in engineering and gross sales. The workers are additionally free to make references. However, there isn’t a new job itemizing on the corporate’s web site as of this writing.