EFF Slams Meta for Killing Instagram Encrypted Chats and Blaming Users

Meta has ended support for opt-in encrypted chats on Instagram. The company cited low usage as the reason for removing the feature.

EFF criticizes Meta's decision to remove encryption

The Electronic Frontier Foundation criticized Meta's decision. The EFF said Meta should not blame users for not using the feature. Instead, the group argued, Meta should enable encryption by default across its platforms.

The EFF called for on-by-default encryption on WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram. The organization noted that users are still waiting for other promised features, such as end-to-end encryption in Facebook Messenger group messages.

It is unclear whether Meta faced technical hurdles or government pressure regarding encryption. Meta has not confirmed the reasons behind the removal.