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Fri, 08 May 2026

Fri, 08 May 2026 Instagram privacy tech is turned off today- what does this mean for your DMs?

The platform said it would remove end-to-end encrypted messages, a major U‑turn by parent company Meta.
The decision means that Instagram can now access all content in direct messages, including images, videos and voice notes. This change comes after seven years of development, during which Meta completed the rollout of E2EE on Facebook Messenger but decided not to proceed with it on Instagram. The move has been welcomed by child protection groups such as the NSPCC, who say that E2EE can "allow perpetrators to evade detection" and put children at risk. However, privacy campaigners have condemned the decision, saying that it represents a step backwards for user privacy. Meta has cited low take-up of optional features as the reason for abandoning plans to introduce E2EE on Instagram, but commentators have questioned this explanation, suggesting that it may reflect a shift in Meta's attitude towards prioritizing advertising and AI training data over user privacy.