This means that when a person in a conversation sends a message, it will be converted into a code and it could be only decoded by the person on other side of the conversation. No third person, any criminal or Law Enforcement agency can interfere in the transmission of messages. Whatsapp Inc also announced that file sharing and audio calling will also be encrypted, because personal privacy is the thing that matters the most.
Whatsapp said: "The idea is simple: when you send a message, the only person who can read it is the person or group chat that you send that message to. No one can see inside that message. Not cyber-criminals. Not hackers. Not oppressive regimes. Not even us."
The conversations were auto-encrypted for the users who had the latest version of Whatsapp. "Amnesty International", a non-governmental organization focused on human rights with over 7 million members and supporters around the world, said that:
"Whatsapp's roll out of the Signal Protocol, providing end to end encryption for its one billion users worldwide, is a major boost for people's ability to express themselves and communicate without fear," the organisation said in a statement.
"This is a huge victory for privacy and free speech, especially for activists and journalists who depend on strong and trustworthy communications to carry out their work without putting their lives at greater risk."
Whatsapp's decision was also welcomed by security professionals.
"Wire-tappers lament, law-abiding citizens rejoice, for WhatsApp's latest update is a victory for communications privacy," said Lee Munson, a security researcher for Comparitech.
"With the ability to access data removed even from the company behind the app, only ill-informed law enforcement agencies are likely to mutter 'terrorists' as the masses enjoy the encrypted text messages, photos, video and phone calls they've been demanding ever since Edward Snowden blew the lid on government surveillance."
Watch Video: Whatsapp Just Switched on Encryption for a Billion People
