X users can no longer send encrypted messages on the platform. The company said it was a “pause” feature, “we are making some improvements.” Users can still view previous encrypted chats, but will not be able to send any new ones.
So far, only encrypted DMS has been provided between mutual aid users or verified users who have previously accepted DMS with each other. A screenshot of X’s feature marks it as “early access”. (It is worth noting that even X’s encryption has many other important warnings, even if it’s working, including the fact that it can’t be used for group chats, multimedia messages or metadata.)
It is not clear when the feature will be available again, or whether the “pause” is related to the company’s yet to release chat platform “Xchat”. X staff has been associated with Xchat, which will reportedly come with encrypted direct messages. Screenshots of the leaker suggest that XCHAT may have other security features like chat.
However, officially, X has not disclosed any situations about too many Xchat or current versions of encrypted DMS. X’s In-App Inbox was one of the features that experienced many problems last week after a power outage on site — possibly due to a fire at an Oregon facility caused by the service. Updates from the company’s developers suggest some of these issues have not been resolved.
X did not respond to a request for comment.
