this post was submitted on 13 Mar 2026
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Instagram quietly drops end-to-end encrypted chats (proton.me)
submitted 2 weeks ago by Beep@lemmus.org to c/technology@lemmy.world
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Instagram appears to be stepping back from end-to-end encrypted messaging — a surprising move after years of Meta, its parent company, promoting strong encryption as the future of private communication.

A notice on Instagram’s help pages now says end-to-end encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after May 8, 2026. The page instructs affected users to download any chat messages or shared media they want to keep before that date.

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[–] Puddinghelmet@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Yeah cause of this trial thats been going on https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/24/tech/meta-new-mexico-trial-jury-deliberation

And because of this trial, instagram will remove end-to-end encryption and add age-verification

The New Mexico case also raised concerns that allowing teens to use end-to-end encryption on Instagram chats — a privacy measure that blocks anyone other than sender and receiver from viewing a conversation — could make it harder for law enforcement to catch predators. Midway through trial, Meta said it would stop supporting end-to-end-encrypted messaging on Instagram later this year.

Regarding the encryption decision, a Meta spokesperson told CNN that, “very few people were opting in to end-to-end encrypted messaging in DMs, so we’re removing this option from Instagram in the coming months. Anyone who wants to keep messaging with end-to-end encryption can easily do that on WhatsApp.”

-- https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/24/tech/meta-new-mexico-trial-jury-deliberation

In May, Judge Bryan Biedscheid is slated to hold a trial without a jury on the state's claims that Meta created a public nuisance that harmed state residents' health and safety. The state will ask Biedscheid to direct Meta to make changes to its platforms, including adding effective age verification and removing predators, it said Tuesday.

-- https://www.msn.com/en-us/crime/general/meta-ordered-to-pay-375-million-in-new-mexico-trial-over-child-exploitation-user-safety-claims/ar-AA1ZkHhq