TikTok has ruled out adding end-to-end encryption to direct messages on its platform, telling the BBC that the extra layer of protection would make users less safe. The company argued that deploying end-to-end encryption would prevent its safety teams and law enforcement from reviewing messages when investigating harmful behavior, particularly involving younger users.
Instead, TikTok says it will continue using standard encryption and will keep access to messages restricted to authorized employees who respond to reports and official requests. The stance contrasts with other major messaging platforms such as Apple’s iMessage, Google Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal, all of which offer end-to-end encrypted chats as a core security feature.
The decision also raises questions about how TikTok’s global policies intersect with its US governance structure. TikTok’s US operations are now controlled by TikTok USDS Joint Venture, an entity majority-owned by non-Chinese investors including Oracle. That unit oversees content moderation and is retraining the app’s recommendation algorithms on US user data, but it is unclear whether it shares the same position on message encryption as the company’s broader leadership.
