INSTAGRAM has removed end-to-end encryption for its direct messages, with the change taking effect on 8 May 2026 and giving Meta access to chats that were previously readable only by the sender and recipient. Users affected are advised to download any media or messages they wish to keep, and those on older versions of the app may need to update to download their chats.
The backups created from exported chats lose their protection once uploaded to cloud services such as Google Drive or iCloud, as they become unencrypted. Meta has justified the move by citing very low usage of E2EE in DMs and the complexity of maintaining separate messaging systems, according to The Verge.
The timing coincides with the Take It Down Act, which requires platforms to remove non-consensual intimate images within 48 hours of notification and is expected to push enforcement by 19 May 2026, a factor analysts say could influence how platforms access content. Experts warn they are unsure what will happen to old encrypted chats after the change, leaving local backups as the recommended option.