End-to-end encryption — E2EE¶
Short definition¶
Participants’ devices control content keys. The transport server should not read ordinary messages.
Concrete example¶
Alice messages Bob. The relay carries ciphertext; Bob decrypts it on his phone.
What it protects¶
Content confidentiality within the documented protocol and path, with uncompromised devices.
What it does not protect¶
Not automatically IP, timing, account or social graph; not Bob’s copy or endpoint spyware.
Why it matters¶
Content can be protected while the relationship remains identifiable.
Example messenger behaviour¶
Signal normally protects messages and calls; Discord text is not E2EE.
Technical details
Key authentication, linked devices, backups and implementations determine the actual scope. E2EE is not a synonym for anonymity.