Meta-owned Instagram is removing end-to-end encryption (E2EE) from its chats, effective May 9. This means users' messages will no longer be fully private.
“End-to-end encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after May 8, 2026,” the company noted in its support page.
E2EE ensures "only you and the people you're communicating with can see or listen to what is sent, and no one else, not even Meta, can do so", according to Instagram. Now, after the change, Meta will be able to access messages and governments requesting data may also see them.
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Until now, Meta-owned services like Instagram and WhatsApp have promoted E2EE, which ensured that only the sender and receiver could see or hear the messages shared on the platform.
But after May 8, E2EE will no longer be supported on Instagram. The company has not issued a press release or blog post about the change. The update was quietly updated on Instagram's help pages, a report by GSMArena noted.
Users can download media or messages they want to keep before the update takes effect.
This marks a major shift in the platform's privacy approach. On the change, Meta spokesperson Dina El-Kassaby Luce told The Verge that Instagram is ending E2EE because “very few people” used it.
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The issue of end-to-end encryption remains highly debated. Global tech giants around the world continue to face criticism for sharing user communications with authorities. At the same time, offering E2EE has also drawn concern, as many argue that it allows child predators to contact minors undetected.
For users wanting end-to-end encryption, Meta suggested using WhatsApp. The company also confirmed that E2EE will continue to be available on Messenger.
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