How does Snapchat describe encryption and access controls for My Eyes Only vs. Memories in its privacy whitepapers?

1. How Snapchat frames Memories: backed up, processed, and searchable

Snapchat describes Memories as an online backup for Snaps and device photos that “helps keep them from being lost” and expressly notes that content saved to Memories is processed by Snapchat—for example, labeled and grouped so the service can help users search, surface related content and personalize experiences like Spotlight and ads ^{[1] [2]}. The company’s wording makes clear Memories live on Snapchat’s servers and are used to power machine‑learning features and personalization, which implies server‑side access to the data for those purposes ^[2].

2. How Snapchat describes My Eyes Only: encrypted and passcode‑protected

Snapchat presents My Eyes Only as an additional layer inside Memories that “lets you keep your Snaps safe and encrypted, and protected behind a password you choose,” explicitly recommending it for private Snaps so they remain safe even “if someone steals your device and logs in” ^{[1] [2]}. Support and community posts reiterate that My Eyes Only items are hidden behind a user‑set passcode and that, without that passcode, “no one can view the things you saved on My Eyes Only — not even us,” and that forgetting the passcode may render the content unrecoverable ^[3].

3. Technical posture implied by Snapchat’s language: separation and local control

The company’s repeated phrasing—encrypted, protected by a password you choose, separate storage from main Memories—signals a design where My Eyes Only is intended as a distinct, vault‑like container with access controlled by a local passcode rather than by ordinary account credentials ^{[1] [4]}. Third‑party explainers and forums interpret this to mean the vault is encrypted in a way tied to the passcode such that Snap cannot decrypt or recover the contents if the code is lost, reflecting a privacy‑first tradeoff ^{[5] [6]}.

4. What Snapchat does not explicitly claim in those pages: end‑to‑end limits and server access for Memories

Snapchat’s product pages do not claim that all Snaps and chats are end‑to‑end encrypted; outside of My Eyes Only, the company’s descriptions of Memories and of server‑side labeling imply Snapchat retains access for processing and personalization ^{[2] [7]}. Independent reporting and analysis have long noted Snapchat’s encryption posture is mixed—some limited E2EE has been reported historically for snaps, but general messages and Memories are not presented as E2EE in the provided sources ^{[8] [7]}.

5. Alternative viewpoints and practical caveats cited by outside sources

Security forums and technical writeups caution that My Eyes Only’s protection can be undermined by device‑level cache, backups, or forensic recovery if local files remain—researchers report scenarios where viewed My Eyes Only content was recoverable from app caches or forensic tools under some conditions, which complicates a literal reading of “not even us” ^[6]. Commentary and guides stress that the feature places responsibility on users (passcode management, device security) and warn of permanent data loss if the passcode is forgotten, reflecting the tension between strong local encryption and user convenience ^{[5] [9]}.

6. Motives, messaging, and what to watch for in Snapchat’s framing

Snapchat’s messaging emphasizes user control and privacy for My Eyes Only while simultaneously promoting Memories as a convenience with personalization tradeoffs—an implicit product agenda that positions paid or engaged users to accept server storage in exchange for features while offering a gated premium of “true” privacy in the vault ^{[1] [2]}. Critics argue that this bifurcation lets Snapchat continue to monetize and analyze Memories while marketing a limited, user‑managed enclave as the privacy solution ^{[7] [10]}.