
Meta flips the switch on Instagram DMs’ privacy, ending E2EE
Meta will discontinue end-to-end encryption for Instagram direct messages after May 8, 2026. Affected chats can be downloaded, and users on older app versions may need updates to retrieve data. With E2EE removed for Instagram, messages and calls won’t be protected from all outsiders anymore, though Meta notes WhatsApp will still offer E2EE and Messenger will continue to have it. The move reflects ongoing safety debates about privacy versus potential misuse and law-enforcement access.












