TikTok won’t add end-to-end encryption to direct messages, report says

TikTok has confirmed it will not add end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to its direct messages, arguing the technology would hinder law enforcement and safety teams from accessing messages when needed. The platform says this is a deliberate choice to protect users, especially minors, from harm. DMs remain protected with standard encryption similar to Gmail, accessible only by authorized employees under specific circumstances such as law enforcement requests. This contrasts with Signal, WhatsApp, Apple Messages, and other major messaging platforms that use E2EE by default.