X has formally introduced *Chat*, a comprehensive and encrypted enhancement to its existing direct messaging infrastructure, marking a significant evolution in how private communication is handled on the platform. This sophisticated update goes beyond simple text exchanges, integrating a variety of modern communication features that reflect today’s expectations for privacy, flexibility, and interactivity. Among its key additions are support for high-quality video and voice calls, the capability to send files securely, and an option for self-erasing or disappearing messages — all of which combine to create a more seamless and secure user experience.
The company announced the debut of Chat on Friday, confirming that the service is immediately accessible across iOS devices and through web browsers. An Android release, however, remains on the horizon and is expected to arrive in the near future. As part of this rollout, Chat fully replaces the platform’s previous direct messaging system. Nonetheless, users should rest assured that their existing message histories will be preserved and transferred, maintaining continuity while benefitting from the enhanced structure and features offered by the new service.
According to X, Chat has been engineered to employ end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for both individual messages and the files transmitted between users, ensuring that only the intended participants in a conversation can access the content exchanged. However, as clarified on an official support page, this encryption does not extend to metadata—details such as timestamps or the identity of message recipients remain outside its protective scope. Moreover, the company concedes that while message content is safeguarded, the system currently offers no intrinsic defense against potential man-in-the-middle attacks. In practical terms, this means that if an internal threat or even X itself were to compromise an encrypted dialogue, users would have no immediate means of detecting such interference. Nevertheless, mechanisms for validating message authenticity and verifying device identities are actively being developed and are expected to enhance overall security in future updates.
Beyond encryption, Chat incorporates several privacy-focused tools designed to empower users with greater control over their communications. Chief among these are disappearing messages that can be configured to automatically delete after a chosen duration, catering to those who prefer transient, ephemeral conversations. In addition, users can decide whether to be notified when someone takes a screenshot of their chat, or alternatively, can block screenshots altogether to maintain stricter confidentiality. Conversations can be edited or deleted at any time, further emphasizing user autonomy. Complementing these features, voice and video calling are now seamlessly integrated within Chat, with support for voice notes scheduled to arrive in upcoming releases, broadening the scope of how users can express themselves in private exchanges.
It is worth recalling that X—known as Twitter at the time—first introduced encrypted direct messages in 2023. The company later decided to pause that functionality in May of the following year while undertaking a period of internal refinement aimed at enhancing both usability and protection standards. The return of these fortified capabilities in the newly launched Chat appears to represent the culmination of those efforts, signaling X’s renewed commitment to secure, adaptable, and modern digital communication.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/news/821950/x-chat-encrypted-dms-video-calls
