Instagram will remove end-to-end encryption from direct messages on May 8, 2026, ending an optional feature that has been available since 2023. The change means Meta will potentially be able to read the contents of all messages between users on the platform. The company quietly updated a help page in March to announce the change.

Meta told The Guardian that the decision stemmed from minimal user adoption. "Very few people were opting in to end-to-end encrypted messaging in DMs," a spokesperson said, directing users to WhatsApp instead for encrypted conversations. Instagram says users will see in-app instructions on how to download any media or messages they want to keep before the cutoff, though the company hasn't explained what happens to existing encrypted chats afterward.

Beyond the stated rationale, Meta has faced sustained pressure from law enforcement and child safety groups to remove encryption. With access to message content, the company could potentially run advertising algorithms or train AI systems on user data. This marks a sharp reversal from 2019, when Meta aggressively promoted strengthening encryption standards across its apps.

WhatsApp remains the only Meta platform with default end-to-end encryption, while Facebook Messenger keeps it as an opt-in feature for group chats.