According to an announcement made today, Facebook can now send its users PGP-encrypted emails.
The new feature will be used for account maintenance emails that Facebook sends to its users, telling them when they have received a message, password changes and other notifications, writes Russell Brandom for The Verge.
Facebook (FB) – Encryption addresses surveillance concerns
Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) has made the move in order to better protect the sometimes sensitive content of these messages. The encryption will mean that no one can read the messages without the encryption key. These kinds of messages were previously encrypted using HTTPS, but this extra level of protection will also hide the messages from email services such as Gmail and Yahoo. Both companies scan the inboxes of their users for ad-targeting purposes.
In order to activate the new feature, Facebook users should upload a public key in the Contact Info section of the About page on their account. The PGP fingerprint will be displayed as part of a user’s contact information on Facebook, so other users can also send you encrypted emails.
The new system uses OpenPGP and GNU Privacy Guard (GPG), a widely used PGP tool. To generate your public PGP key, download GNU’s tools here. Those concerned by their Facebook security can use the new feature alongside the Tor site which the social network introduced last October.
Identity protection a necessity for some users
The features enable users to enjoy Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) without revealing their identity. To do so, connect via Tor and maintain your account using encrypted emails. Although any messages sent under the new system will clearly be from Facebook, they will not reveal which account they are relevant to. As a result, you can receive alerts without revealing your identity.
Such a feature could be vital for activists and journalists in countries where they are in danger of repression from authorities. They can now use Facebook under a pseudonym and never reveal their true identity to the network.
Introducing encryption to such a widely-used service could herald the arrival of the technology to more and more arenas of daily life. The population is increasingly concerned about online privacy, and Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) is helping people to protect their data.
