Instagram Ends End-To-End DM Encryption

Instagram users will no longer be able to send and receive end-to-end encrypted messages in the platform’s chat feature, as Meta announces a notable change in its approach to user privacy.

Instagram’s 3 billion global users will no longer be able to send and receive end-to-end encrypted messages in the social platform’s chat feature, as Meta announces a notable change in its approach to user privacy.

Meta’s encrypted messaging technology — “E2EE” — was first integrated into the tech giant’s Messenger app in 2023 as a default setting, then later rolled out to Instagram as an opt-in setting, providing users with the ability to keep their direct messages private from Meta and other users.  

However, the company decided in March not to renew its E2EE Instagram functionality, stating on its Support page that “end-to-end encrypted messages on Instagram will no longer be supported after May 8, 2026.”