Meta Reverses Instagram DM Encryption, Ending E2EE by May 2026
Meta will permanently remove end-to-end encryption from Instagram Direct Messages, with E2EE disabled by May 8, 2026. The feature existed only as an opt-in in limited regions and had low uptake, after which DMs will revert to standard messages readable by Meta for moderation. Users are urged to export existing encrypted chats before the deadline; critics say the move undermines privacy and could enable broader content scanning, while WhatsApp remains fully encrypted and Messenger’s one-on-one chats stay E2EE.