Instagram users will no longer have the option to send end-to-end encrypted direct messages, as Meta has ended support for the feature. The change, effective immediately, means that both Meta and internet service providers can now access private conversations previously shielded from third parties.
Meta's Justification
A Meta spokesperson stated that the decision was due to low adoption rates. "Anyone who wants to keep messaging with end-to-end encryption can easily do that on WhatsApp," they said. The updated terms and conditions note that affected chats will receive instructions on how to download media or messages before the change.
Mixed Reactions
Child protection groups, including the NSPCC, have praised the move, arguing it will help prevent grooming and child abuse that previously went unseen due to encryption. However, privacy campaigners strongly criticize the decision, warning it could harm children by exposing their data.
Matthew Hodgson, CEO of Element, a communications platform, called the move "a white flag to surveillance and a gift to their own AI training sets." He added, "By switching off end-to-end encryption, Meta is claiming the keys to your private life. It has decided that data from your voice notes and DMs is more valuable than your fundamental right to a private conversation."
Hodgson dismissed the low opt-in rate excuse as a "classic Big Tech distraction," emphasizing that if privacy were truly a priority, it would be the default setting, not a hidden option that can be removed when it suits Meta's bottom line.
