Meta Platforms announced Horizon Chat, a messaging platform that encrypts all conversations end‑to‑end and offers AI‑driven content moderation to comply with upcoming EU regulations.

Meta Platforms has unveiled Horizon Chat, a new messaging app that places privacy at its core by encrypting every conversation end‑to‑end and integrating AI‑driven content moderation to meet forthcoming EU digital‑service rules.

Key Privacy Features

Horizon Chat uses default end‑to‑end encryption, meaning only the participants can read messages. Meta says the encryption keys never leave the users’ devices, and the company cannot access the content even for internal analytics.

The app also includes a self‑destruct timer for messages, allowing users to set a lifespan after which chats are automatically deleted from all devices.

AI‑Powered Moderation

To comply with the EU’s Digital Services Act, Horizon Chat employs on‑device artificial intelligence that scans messages for illegal content such as hate speech, extremist propaganda, and disinformation. The AI operates locally, ensuring that moderation decisions are made without transmitting raw data to Meta’s servers.

When potentially harmful content is detected, the app offers users a prompt to edit or delete the message before it is sent, reducing the need for post‑hoc takedowns.

Availability and Integration

Horizon Chat will launch globally on iOS and Android later this quarter, with a web version slated for early 2027. Existing Meta accounts can be linked, but the service will also allow anonymous sign‑ups for users who prefer not to share personal identifiers.

  • End‑to‑end encryption by default
  • On‑device AI moderation
  • Self‑destruct timers for messages
  • Cross‑platform availability

Meta positions Horizon Chat as a response to growing consumer demand for secure communication tools, especially after high‑profile data‑privacy scandals involving other social‑media platforms.

We want to give people control over their conversations without sacrificing safety.

The rollout will be monitored closely by European regulators, who have signaled that robust privacy measures will be a prerequisite for any new digital service operating in the bloc.

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