Meta’s photo and short-video sharing platform Instagram is planning to stop supporting end-to-end encrypted messaging, according to reports.
This change comes as global regulators increase pressure on tech companies to better control illegal and harmful content shared through private messaging services.
End-to-end encryption is a security feature that ensures only the sender and receiver can read messages, making it difficult for companies or authorities to access the content.
However, critics say this level of privacy can sometimes make it harder to detect and stop illegal activities being carried out through such platforms.
Meta, Instagram’s parent company, has defended its decision by saying that the encrypted messaging feature has seen very low usage among users.
The company claims that since very few people are using this feature, removing it will not significantly impact the overall user experience.
At the same time, Meta is facing increasing scrutiny from regulators in different countries who are pushing for stronger monitoring of online content, especially in private chats.
The decision has sparked discussion about the balance between user privacy and online safety.
While some argue that encryption is important for protecting personal communication, others believe that social media platforms should have more tools to prevent misuse.
Meta’s move reflects the growing tension between privacy rights and regulatory demands in the digital world.
The company has not yet announced a final timeline for when