Instagram privacy tech is turned off today- what does this mean for your DMs?
Source: BBC Technology
Joe Tidy – Cyber correspondent, BBC World Service
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Instagram disables ultra‑private direct messages worldwide
Instagram users will no longer be able to send ultra‑private direct messages, as the feature is being switched off globally.
The removal of end‑to‑end encryption (E2EE) on messages marks a major U‑turn by parent company Meta, which previously championed the technology as the gold standard for user privacy.
- E2EE is the most secure form of online messaging – only the sender and recipient can view the content.
- It has long been opposed by campaigners who argue it enables the spread of extremist content without the possibility of law‑enforcement intervention.
Because of this, Meta’s decision has been welcomed by child‑protection groups but condemned by privacy advocates.
By switching off E2EE, Instagram will now be able to access all direct‑message content, including images, videos and voice notes.
“We are really pleased,” said Rani Govender (NSPCC). “E2EE can allow perpetrators to evade detection, enabling the grooming and abuse of children to go unseen.”
“I’m disappointed,” said Maya Thomas (Big Brother Watch). “E2EE is one of the key ways children can keep their data safe online, so we’re concerned that Meta may be caving to government pressure.”
Background
- In 2019, Meta pledged to roll out E2EE across Facebook and Instagram, declaring “the future is private.”
- The rollout was completed on Facebook Messenger in 2023, after which the feature became optional on Instagram with plans to make it the default.
- After seven years, Meta has decided not to proceed with a wider deployment on Instagram; the platform will now only offer standard encryption.
Standard encryption allows internet service providers (and, in some cases, law‑enforcement agencies) to access private material if required. It is the common system used by most major online services such as Gmail.
Meta
“Your private communications should be secure,” said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in 2019.
Years‑long fight
Since 2019, Meta has defended its plans amid criticism while working through the technical challenge of bringing end‑to‑end encrypted (E2EE) messaging to Facebook and Instagram.
The company never publicly announced its decision to abandon the Instagram rollout. Instead, it quietly updated the app’s terms and conditions in March:
“End‑to‑end encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after 8 May 2026.
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 the decision was taken because too few users were opting in to use the feature. Commentators note that optional features often suffer low uptake because requiring users to opt in creates extra friction.
Reactions
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Analysts & experts – Cyber‑security expert Victoria Baines, professor of IT at Gresham College, sees the move as a shift in Meta’s attitude toward privacy:
“Social media platforms monetise our communications — our posts, likes and messages — so they can serve targeted advertising.
And increasingly, companies like Meta are focusing on training AI models, for which messaging data can be extremely valuable. I think the decision is more complex.”Instagram has previously said direct messages are not used to train AI.
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Company response – Meta declined to comment further on its reversal, and Instagram boss Adam Mosseri declined interview requests.
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Campaigners – Groups such as Big Brother Watch warn the decision could influence the wider social‑media industry, potentially slowing the spread of E2EE.
Current state of E2EE across platforms
| Platform | E2EE status |
|---|---|
| Signal | Default |
| Default | |
| Facebook Messenger | Default |
| Apple iMessage | Default |
| Google Messages | Default |
| Telegram | Optional (not default) |
| X (formerly Twitter) | Optional for DMs, but critics say it does not meet industry standards |
| Snapchat | Default for photo/video DMs; plans to extend to text |
| Discord | Planning default E2EE for voice & video calls |
Fourteen days after the March update, Instagram confirmed via its terms that it would not proceed with the E2EE rollout. Commentators, including Baines, argue that such setbacks may keep E2EE largely confined to dedicated messaging apps for the foreseeable future.
Images
| Description | Image |
|---|---|
| Adam Mosseri (Getty Images) |  |
| Tech Decoded banner |  |
Placeholder images have been removed for clarity.
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