⚠ JUST IN: Starting today, on May 8th 2026, Instagram has officially disabled E2EE (end-to-end encryption) for Direct Messages.

While this change erupts a lot of doubts on user privacy, Meta will now be able to have the ability to scan and access message contents (including images, videos, and voice notes), ensuring this use for safety, moderation and also for legal requests.

While chats, unencrypted, still are safe from hackers, are no longer safe from Meta's access. The feature to create a "locked" conversation, also known as "secret chats", that only the participants can read will now be removed.

Users are also advised to download sensitive data from any encrypted conversations before the deadline & to switch to WhatsApp to continue using E2EE messaging via Meta.

@arch