Encryption where only communicating parties can read messages—service providers cannot access content.
End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) ensures only the communicating parties can read messages—the service provider cannot decrypt content. Messages are encrypted on the sender's device and only decrypted on the recipient's device. WhatsApp, Signal, and iMessage use E2EE. E2EE protects against interception, provider access, and provider data breaches. However, E2EE complicates business compliance (no central monitoring) and recovery (lost keys mean lost messages).
Why It Matters
The DSC Perspective:
E2EE provides strong privacy protection but has business implications. Consider E2EE for sensitive communications but understand the compliance and recovery trade-offs for business use.