New Delhi/Patna: X (formerly Twitter) has launched a standalone messaging application, XChat, marking its latest move into private communications. The app is currently available only on iOS devices, including iPhone and iPad.
Features Focused On Privacy
The company says XChat offers a range of features, including private messaging, audio and video calls, and file sharing. It claims that conversations are protected through end-to-end encryption and supported by additional tools such as PIN protection, disappearing messages, and options to edit or delete chats.
Other features include a screenshot restriction function, while the company has also stated that the app is free from advertisements and does not track users.
Security Concerns Raised
Despite these assurances, security researchers have raised concerns about the robustness of XChat’s encryption framework.
Experts have suggested that the encryption system may not yet match the standards of established messaging platforms such as Signal, and have emphasised the need for independent verification of the company’s claims.
Questions have also been raised about technical aspects such as key storage, encryption protocols and the implementation of PIN-based security.
Shift From ‘Super App’ Vision
The launch of XChat reflects a shift from Elon Musk’s earlier vision of transforming X into a single “super app” combining messaging, payments and other services. Instead, the company now appears to be developing separate, standalone applications.
Call For Transparency
Security experts have urged caution, noting that while the app promises enhanced privacy, greater transparency is needed before users can fully trust the platform.
Many have advised users to rely on well-established, independently audited messaging services until XChat undergoes rigorous external evaluation.
For now, XChat enters a competitive space with ambitious claims, but also with unanswered questions about its security foundations.
