Meta Shuts Down End-to-End Encryption for Instagram Messaging

Meta may be fighting tooth and nail to prove that WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption (E2E), but as of today, it's removing the technology from Instagram DMs.

E2E encryption means that no one except the two parties messaging each other can read the message logs, including government entities, law enforcement, or even Meta itself. However, in a brief note posted on its support website, the company notes that, "End-to-end encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after May 8, 2026."

In a statement to PCMag, a Meta spokesperson said it opted to remove the feature because “very few people were opting in to end-to-end encrypted messaging in DMs. Anyone who wants to keep messaging with end-to-end encryption can easily do that on WhatsApp."

You May Also Like

E2E encryption is enabled by default on WhatsApp. On Facebook Messenger, it's automatically on for personal messages (but not for group or business messages).

"If you have chats that are impacted by this change, you will see instructions on how you can download any media or messages you may want to keep," Meta says. You may need to upgrade to a newer version of your app to download your data.

Adding E2E encryption to Instagram had attracted controversy. A case brought by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez alleged that the company “knew that E2E would make its platforms less safe by preventing it from detecting and reporting child sexual exploitation and the solicitation and distribution of child exploitation images sent in encrypted messages.”

Recommended by Our Editors

iOS 26.5 Finally Adds End-to-End Encrypted RCS Between iPhone, Android Travel Smarter: How to Keep Your Laptop Safe With BitLocker Encryption Meta: Lawsuit Claiming WhatsApp Lacks End-to-End Encryption Is Falling Apart

In March, a New Mexico jury found Meta liable under the Unfair Practices Act and ordered $375 million in civil penalties; the company is appealing and pushing back on suggested changes.

In March, TikTok said it was not planning to add E2E for DMs. "Our messaging system has long been designed to balance user privacy with the ability to respond to scams, harassment, and other safety concerns when users report them or when required by law," a spokesperson said.

About Our Expert

Will McCurdy Contributor Experience

I’m a reporter covering weekend news. Before joining PCMag in 2024, I picked up bylines in BBC News, The Guardian, The Times of London, The Daily Beast, Vice, Slate, Fast Company, The Evening Standard, The i, TechRadar, and Decrypt Media.

I’ve been a PC gamer since you had to install games from multiple CD-ROMs by hand. As a reporter, I’m passionate about the intersection of tech and human lives. I’ve covered everything from crypto scandals to the art world, as well as conspiracy theories, UK politics, and Russia and foreign affairs.

Latest By Will McCurdy

• Vibe Coding Just Got Cuter. Check Out OpenAI's New Virtual Pets
• You Need to Be Human to Win an Oscar, Says Academy
• Amazon Is Using AI Podcast Hosts to Sell Adult Diapers and Fake Dog Poop
• Wanna Work for Amazon? AWS CEO Promises He’s Still Hiring Devs
• Cybercriminals Are Now Coming After Freight Cargo. And They’re Doing a Great Job.
• More from Will McCurdy

Read Full Bio