Meta Disables Instagram's End-to-End Encryption for Direct Messages

Instagram has switched off its end-to-end encryption feature for direct messages worldwide. The change means users can no longer send ultra-private messages, marking a reversal by parent company Meta.

Meta once promoted end-to-end encryption as the top standard for user privacy. The technology lets only the sender and recipient read messages. Campaigners have opposed it for years, arguing it lets extremists share content without authorities' knowledge.

Child protection groups welcomed the decision. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has warned that end-to-end encryption risks children's safety. "We are really pleased," said Rani Govender from the charity. She added that the technology "can allow perpetrators to evade detection, enabling the grooming and abuse of children to go unseen."

Privacy advocates condemned the move. Maya Thomas from Big Brother Watch called herself "disappointed" and said end-to-end encryption was "one of the key ways children can keep their data safe online." She added that Meta may be yielding to government pressure.

Without end-to-end encryption, Instagram can now access all direct message content, including images, videos and voice notes. The company will switch to standard encryption, which lets internet service providers view private material when required. Gmail and most major services use this system.

Meta pledged in 2019 to roll out the technology across Facebook and Instagram messaging, declaring "the future is private." It finished the rollout on Facebook Messenger in 2023 and made it optional on Instagram, with plans to set it as default.

After seven years, Meta abandoned wider deployment on Instagram. The company did not announce the decision publicly. Instead, it updated the app's terms in March. "End-to-end encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after 8 May 2026," the terms state. "If you have chats affected by this change, you will see instructions on how to download any media or messages you may wish to keep."

Meta told reporters few users opted in for the feature. Commentators note that optional features often see low adoption due to added steps.

Cybersecurity expert Victoria Baines, a professor of information technology at Gresham College, said social media platforms make money from communications to target ads. "And increasingly, companies like Meta are focusing on training AI models, for which messaging data can be extremely valuable," she said. "I think the decision is more complex."

Instagram has said it does not use direct messages to train AI. The company declined further comment, and Instagram head Adam Mosseri skipped an interview.

Last month, Meta told staff it would collect their clicks and activity on work devices for AI training data.

End-to-end encryption serves as default on Signal, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Apple's iMessage and Google Messages. Telegram offers it optionally. X, formerly Twitter, has a similar system for direct messages that critics say falls short of standards. Snapchat applies it to direct message photos and videos and plans to add text. Discord aims to make voice and video calls end-to-end encrypted by default.