Meta has announced that, starting May 8, it will remove the end-to-end encrypted messaging feature in Instagram. The company justifies the measure due to the low usage of this privacy option, implemented in 2023. To maintain conversations with that level of security, it recommends migrating to WhatsApp. The decision comes at a time of global regulatory pressure against encryption, which authorities link to the fight against child exploitation.
The technical decline of a privacy layer 🔧
The removed feature used the Signal protocol, a robust standard that prevented any intermediary, including Meta, from accessing the content of the messages. Its implementation in Instagram was partial and optional, which explains its low adoption. Technically, its removal simplifies the app's architecture and aligns its messaging with that of Facebook, where E2EE encryption is also not standard. This centralizes strong privacy in WhatsApp, facilitating Meta's management of legal demands.
Privacy is a one-way trip (to WhatsApp) 🚀
Meta, in its infinite generosity, offers us a clear path: if you want to talk without prying eyes, switch apps. It's like in a restaurant they take away your cutlery and the waiter points to the place next door, which conveniently belongs to the same owner. This way we consolidate the ecosystem: one app for filtered photos, another for secret messages. A privacy by departments strategy that undoubtedly prioritizes our comfort over their legal complications.