Instagram Discontinues End-to-End Encrypted DMs Due to Low Usage

Instagram is set to discontinue support for end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) messages starting May 8th. A Meta spokesperson, Dina El-Kassaby Luce, explained that the decision comes due to the low usage of E2EE in direct messages. Users affected by this change are being notified within the app, and an update on the support page advises them to download their E2EE chats and images before the feature is removed. For those who wish to continue using end-to-end encryption, Luce pointed out that WhatsApp remains a viable option.

Meta introduced E2EE to Instagram in 2023 after implementing it on WhatsApp and Messenger, ensuring that third parties, including Meta itself, could not access users’ messages. However, as global regulators push for enhanced child safety measures on social media platforms, E2EE has come under scrutiny. In 2024, the Nevada Attorney General sought to prohibit Meta from providing E2EE to minors, while New Mexico’s AG claimed that the company was aware that E2EE could compromise safety by hindering the detection and reporting of child exploitation.

The UK is also a potential challenge for E2EE, having reportedly instructed Apple to enable backdoor access to iCloud data last year.