Messaging Encryption Has Come a Long Way, but Falls Short

End-to-end encryption in messaging has improved significantly over recent years, with platforms like Apple and Signal leading adoption. However, structural problems persist: centralized implementations concentrate metadata and message data in the hands of a few vendors, making them targets for commercial interests, law enforcement, and legislators. Interoperability gaps remain, and even the best option (Signal) lacks mass adoption. The centralization of messaging infrastructure is identified as the defining challenge, creating chokepoints that could break security for everyone simultaneously. No robust, widely adopted decentralized E2EE messaging solution has yet emerged.