The Meta versus New Mexico trial is entering its final stages. The state accuses the social media giant of misleading the public and using design features that put children at risk.Just days ago, Meta removed one of those features. The encryption feature keeps messages completely private between users, and it’s been a major point of debate throughout the trial.“Encryption basically makes it so that Meta does not see people’s messages directly,” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said.End-to-end encryption locks a message on your device before it’s sent. It stays locked as it moves through the company’s servers, so only the people in the chat can see it. No one outside the conversation can read it, not Meta and not even law enforcement.Meta has argued that the feature adds privacy for users. In a deposition, Zuckerberg described the challenge of balancing privacy and safety.“Our job is to build products that balance these things in appropriate ways. Safety is obviously extremely important. People also care a lot about privacy and security, too,” Zuckerberg said.Now, Meta says it is pausing that privacy feature on Instagram. In a statement, the company explained the reason for the change. “Very few people were opting in to end-to-end encrypted messaging in DMs, so we’re removing this option from Instagram in the coming months,” a Meta spokesperson wrote.The timing of the decision is drawing attention.“So it’s interesting timing, it’s strategic, I mean, there’s no such thing as a coincidence in a case as big as this,” KOAT Legal Expert John Day said.New Mexico officials say the move does not go far enough because the change will not apply to Facebook or WhatsApp. In a statement, the Attorney General’s Office said end-to-end encryption “blinds the company to communications between predators and children and makes it more difficult for law enforcement to bring criminals to justice.”Day said the move could affect how jurors view Meta during the trial.“It’s not a coincidence, it’s part of the strategy, and it may be a good card to play on behalf of Meta,” Day said.Day added that jurors may see the decision as the company responding to concerns raised during the case.“I don’t know that a juror would look at it as making them look more guilty. It may say, look, they’re taking accountability, they’re taking responsibility,” Day said.
The Meta versus New Mexico trial is entering its final stages. The state accuses the social media giant of misleading the public and using design features that put children at risk.
Just days ago, Meta removed one of those features.
The encryption feature keeps messages completely private between users, and it’s been a major point of debate throughout the trial.
“Encryption basically makes it so that Meta does not see people’s messages directly,” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said.
End-to-end encryption locks a message on your device before it’s sent. It stays locked as it moves through the company’s servers, so only the people in the chat can see it. No one outside the conversation can read it, not Meta and not even law enforcement.
Meta has argued that the feature adds privacy for users. In a deposition, Zuckerberg described the challenge of balancing privacy and safety.
“Our job is to build products that balance these things in appropriate ways. Safety is obviously extremely important. People also care a lot about privacy and security, too,” Zuckerberg said.
Now, Meta says it is pausing that privacy feature on Instagram. In a statement, the company explained the reason for the change.
“Very few people were opting in to end-to-end encrypted messaging in DMs, so we’re removing this option from Instagram in the coming months,” a Meta spokesperson wrote.
The timing of the decision is drawing attention.
“So it’s interesting timing, it’s strategic, I mean, there’s no such thing as a coincidence in a case as big as this,” KOAT Legal Expert John Day said.
New Mexico officials say the move does not go far enough because the change will not apply to Facebook or WhatsApp. In a statement, the Attorney General’s Office said end-to-end encryption “blinds the company to communications between predators and children and makes it more difficult for law enforcement to bring criminals to justice.”
Day said the move could affect how jurors view Meta during the trial.
“It’s not a coincidence, it’s part of the strategy, and it may be a good card to play on behalf of Meta,” Day said.
Day added that jurors may see the decision as the company responding to concerns raised during the case.
“I don’t know that a juror would look at it as making them look more guilty. It may say, look, they’re taking accountability, they’re taking responsibility,” Day said.
