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Meta ends Instagram end to end encrypted chats for users starting May 2026
Technology
Published on 11 May 2026
WhatsApp keeps encryption by default while Instagram drops it
Meta says it will stop supporting end to end encrypted chats on Instagram from May 2026, citing low adoption and regulatory pressure. While WhatsApp will continue encryption by default, Instagram users will lose a key privacy layer that many relied on for private conversations. The change reignites the debate over how tech companies balance safety demands with user privacy.
- Instagram will end end to end encrypted chat support in May 2026
- Meta cites low adoption and regulatory concerns as key reasons
- WhatsApp encryption remains on by default, unlike Instagram
- The move is likely to intensify privacy and safety debates
Read the full story at Republic
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
Republic