Big Tech Firms - Status Of Ultra‑Private Direct Messages (E2EE) - for example; Instagram changes Friday 8 May 2026:
Ultra‑Private Direct Messages / End-To-End Encryption (E2EE) in big tech firm provided services may not be what you once understood it to be.
For example, today (8 May 2026), globally, Meta Instagram is the latest messaging service to withdraw E2EE from it's platform.
There is a lot of debate (pros and cons / positives and negatives) about these changes. For end users of messaging services; it means keeping updated about which services still offer E2EE (or still plan to offer E2EE), compared with those services who have withdrawn their ultra-private direct messages (E2EE) service.
BBC Tech Decoded - overview of the situation:
"E2EE is the most secure form of online messaging - allowing only the sender and recipient to view messages - but has long been opposed by campaigners who say it allows extreme content to be spread online without the authorities being able to intervene.
That means Meta's decision has been welcomed by groups including children's charities - but condemned by privacy advocates."
More details:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clypzxl3lvqo
BBC also highlights that:
"The company [Meta] did not publicly announce its decision to abandon plans for the Instagram rollout.
Instead, it quietly updated the app's terms and conditions in March.
"End‑to‑end encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after 8 May 2026.
"If you have chats affected by this change, you will see instructions on how to download any media or messages you may wish to keep," it said."
