Overview
- Meta updated its help pages and began in‑app notices confirming that end‑to‑end encrypted chats and calls on Instagram will no longer be supported after May 8, 2026, with tools available to export messages and media before access ends.
- A company spokesperson said very few users opted in, and the feature—tested since 2021 and never made default—remained limited compared with WhatsApp, where encryption is on by default.
- With encryption removed, Instagram can again scan DM content and comply with legal requests, a shift that has prompted privacy warnings about potential internal review and possible use in advertising or AI systems.
- Meta is directing users who want encrypted messaging to WhatsApp, while TikTok recently reiterated that its DMs are not end‑to‑end encrypted, highlighting diverging strategies across major platforms.
- The change arrives as regulatory and safety pressures grow, including U.S. enforcement of the Take It Down Act starting May 19 and the EU’s extension of voluntary CSAM detection rules through 2027.