Edward Snowden, a National Security Agency famed whistleblower, knows something about the need for safe, secure communication. His flight from the United States in 2013 followed extensive leaks of classified information and his current asylum in Russia.
He is a big fan of encrypted messaging app Signal, and the app’s website quotes him above all other testimonials.
“I use Signal every day.”
Recently, Signal rolled out the ability to hold group encrypted video calls, and Snowden already weighed in on the new addition: He tweeted,
“I have been waiting for this for a very long time.”
Signal’s group encrypted video call feature lets up to five people join in for a shared chat. Group calls are encrypted end-to-end, “like everything else on Signal,” says a blog post, and it can opt between viewing a grid of the four other participants or have the app focus on whoever speaks at a given time.
The feature is now available on both iOS and Android, and only in “new style Signal groups.” Older groups on the app will be updated to the new format in the coming weeks. Signal is working on expanding the number of participants beyond five, but there is no telling when it might happen.
The addition of group video calls comes with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, in which video chat services like Zoom have been popular. With many people working from home these days, schools doing online classes, and gatherings of all sorts are canceled, the ability to hold those group video calls through Signal may provide some with additional peace of mind given the end-to-end encryption.
“2020 has seen its fair number of challenges and changes,” states the post.
“We’ve all adapted to new ways of staying in touch, getting work done, celebrating birthdays and weddings, and even exercising. As more and more of our critical and personal moments move online, we want to continue to provide you with new ways to share and connect privately.”
The demand for Signal also surged this year because of protests, like following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. The app’s downloads soared in the United States in May, and early in June, the app added the ability to censor faces in shared photos to evade police surveillance.
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