Messages exchanged on a major social media platform will soon no longer be end-to-end encrypted, it has been announced.
Instagram users will soon not enjoy complete privacy while sending DMs from May, its owner Meta has confirmed.
The online giant, which also owns Facebook and WhatsApp said that most customers had not opted for encryption.
It comes as social networks have come under increased pressure to better moderate online content and remove harmful posts, particularly those exposed to minors.
End-to-end encryption ensures that messages are only seen by the sender and receiver and no-one else, including the platform itself.
The function works using a special key which locks conversations, preventing them from being seen or heard except on devices that own the key.
Both Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp encrypt messages and calls by default.
However Meta has announced that the option will no longer be available on Instagram as of May 8.
It confirmed that users with chats affected by this change would be notified any content they wish to keep.
Those that still wish to exchange messages privately would continue to be able to do so on WhatsApp, the firm said.
While not giving any further explanation for the decision, the move would allow Meta to scan and flag illegal material.
It came as Ofcom gave major online platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok, until the end of next month to demonstrate they are taking steps to protect children from being exposed to harmful content.
The regulator said it would publish details of which sites had responded to its request to take steps, including age limits and controls to stop strangers contacting children, by April 30.
Its CEO, Dame Melanie Dawes, said: ‘These online services are household names, but they’re failing to put children’s safety at the heart of their products.
‘There is a gap between what tech companies promise in private, and what they’re doing publicly to keep children safe on their platforms.
‘Without the right protections, like effective age checks, children have been routinely exposed to risks they didn’t choose, on services they can’t realistically avoid. That must now change quickly, or Ofcom will act.’
Metro has contacted Meta for comment.
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