Instagram will no longer offer end-to-end encrypted direct messages from May 8, 2026 onwards, Meta has confirmed. The company shared the news through a help page update that attracted little fanfare. The decision comes after sustained pressure from child safety organizations and global law enforcement agencies.
Mark Zuckerberg first committed to encryption across Meta’s platforms in 2019. Instagram’s version of the feature launched in 2023 but was opt-in and rarely used. Meta has cited this poor performance as the reason for the feature’s removal.
Once the change takes effect, Meta will have access to all Instagram DMs. The company’s ability to monitor private conversations on the platform will be fully restored. Child safety advocates and law enforcement see this as a meaningful step toward making Instagram safer.
The Australian eSafety commissioner noted that while encryption plays an important role in protecting privacy, it must be paired with proactive safety measures. The FBI, Interpol, and national agencies in Australia and the UK had all argued that encryption on Instagram was enabling harm. Australia reportedly saw the feature switched off before the global May deadline.
Privacy advocates remain critical of the approach. Digital Rights Watch argued that removing encryption does not address the root causes of online harm and may create new risks. The organization warned that Meta’s access to DM content could have commercial implications that users have not been prepared for.