Terms of Service with Clare Duffy How to Keep Your Private Messages Truly Private
4 snips
Sep 9, 2025 
Riana Pfefferkorn, a policy fellow at Stanford specializing in encryption and digital privacy, dives deep into the complexities surrounding private communication. She explains how DMs and texts, while seemingly safe, can be vulnerable to third-party access. Riana highlights the crucial role of end-to-end encryption and discusses tools like Signal for ensuring security, particularly for marginalized communities. She also shares practical tips for selecting messaging apps and understanding settings to truly safeguard your conversations in today's politically charged environment.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Prefer End-To-End Encryption
- Use end-to-end encryption so intermediaries cannot read your message contents.
- Choose services where the provider does not hold decryption keys to ensure message confidentiality.
Normalize Encryption For Everyone
- Using end-to-end encryption for everyday chats reduces suspicion in surveillance regimes.
- Normalizing encrypted messaging makes safe communication less conspicuous and safer for everyone.
Encryption Wars Shifted After San Bernardino
- Riana recalled studying encryption policy around the Apple-FBI San Bernardino dispute.
- That era shifted focus from device to messaging encryption debates in policy circles.