End-to-end encryption (E2EE) protects messages and calls so that only the sender and recipient may read them.

For years, users could choose to send encrypted messages, but this will soon be the default setting.

Critics, including the UK government and police, fear that the switch to default encryption will make detecting child sexual abuse on Messenger more difficult.

After working together to combat other internet ills, Home Secretary James Cleverly said he was “incredibly disappointed” by Meta’s decision.

“We’ll continue to work closely with them (Meta) to keep children safe online, but we must be honest that in our view, this is a significant step back” , he went on to say.

The National Crime Agency’s director general for threats, James Babbage, was likewise harshly critical.

“It is extremely disappointing that Meta has decided to implement end-to-end encryption on Facebook Messenger.”

“Today our role in protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation just got harder,” he went on to say.