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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Technology
Josh Taylor Technology reporter

SHOCKING: Instagram to remove end to end encryption for private messages in may - You Need To See This

Instagram logo is seen on a cell phone
A spokesperson for Meta said the decision to abandon encryption on Instagram messages was due to low uptake. Photograph: Michael Dwyer/AP

Instagram will stop encrypting private messages between users from May, after enduring years of criticism from law enforcement and child safety groups over the feature.

Meta quietly announced this month on its help page for Instagram and in an updated 2022 news post that end-to-end encryption would no longer be available on direct messages between users on Instagram from 8 May 2026.

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