Meta’s photo-sharing platform Instagram will stop supporting end-to-end encrypted messages starting May 8, according to an update on its support page. The change requires users who activated the feature to download their messages and media before the deadline if they wish to retain their content.
The encryption method protects all messages between two devices because only those devices can decrypt the content. The chat platform does not have any ability to view the chat contents. Instagram will protect messages through transmission security, but the platform will gain access to decrypted content once users remove the security feature.
Instagram users who need to use encrypted chats will obtain message and file download instructions before the feature ends.
Instagram existed without encrypted chat as its default setting. Users had to start a separate chat and manually enable the feature. Users on WhatsApp automatically receive end-to-end encryption for all their message exchanges, which works as the platform's standard security system.
Some users have already reported receiving notifications about the upcoming change. A user on Reddit shared that when they tried to download messages, they needed to know the encrypted chat feature would stop working after a certain date.
The Instagram app and website both offer account data downloads for users who need to back up their encrypted messages, which will vanish with the upcoming feature removal.