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Instagram privacy tech is turned off today- what does this mean for your DMs?
Key takeaways
- Joe Tidy Cyber correspondent, BBC World Service Getty Images Instagram users will no longer be able to send ultra‑private direct messages, as the feature is switched off globally.
- The removal of end‑to‑end encryption (E2EE) on messages amounts to a major U‑turn by parent company Meta, which previously championed the tech as the gold standard for user privacy.
- That means Meta's decision has been welcomed by groups including children's charities - but condemned by privacy advocates.
Why this matters: a developing story that could shape the day's news cycle.
Joe Tidy Cyber correspondent, BBC World Service Getty Images Instagram users will no longer be able to send ultra‑private direct messages, as the feature is switched off globally.
The removal of end‑to‑end encryption (E2EE) on messages amounts to a major U‑turn by parent company Meta, which previously championed the tech as the gold standard for user privacy.
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.
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