Instagram removed end-to-end encryption for DMs. What should users do?

Instagram removed end-to-end encryption for direct messages on May 8, 2026, allowing Meta technical access to previously encrypted chats and prompting affected users to download/export their message history (with a caution to avoid cloud backups). The change is attributed to low E2EE usage and noted as potentially enabling compliance with the U.S. Take It Down Act’s content-removal requirements, raising broader privacy concerns.