SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police have issued a public advisory for Instagram users, urging increased caution regarding the privacy of direct messages (DMs) following recent changes to the platform’s encryption protocols.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the advisory highlights concerns that direct messages on Instagram may no longer offer the same level of privacy as previously assumed, particularly after the discontinuation of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) support.
According to an announcement shared on X, the police department indicated that the platform ceased supporting E2EE for direct messages on May 8, 2026. This change implies that messages exchanged via Instagram DMs may not be as securely encrypted and protected as they were in the past.
The advisory elaborated that Meta, the parent company of Instagram, implemented this change as part of broader efforts to enhance online safety measures. The intention behind the alteration is to improve the detection of harmful or unlawful content, thereby enabling law enforcement agencies to intervene more effectively when necessary.
Emphasizing the critical importance of digital privacy awareness, the police stressed the need for responsible usage of social media platforms. Users have been strongly advised against sharing sensitive personal information through Instagram direct messages. This includes crucial data such as passwords, one-time passwords (OTPs), banking details, personal documents, and private photographs.
The authorities recommend that individuals opt for dedicated encrypted communication platforms for conversations that require a high degree of confidentiality. Furthermore, users are encouraged to maintain regular backups of important chat histories and media files, as deleted online content may not always be permanently removed from the internet’s accessible records.
Officials stated that this awareness initiative is an integral part of the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s continuous cyber safety outreach programs. These efforts are being conducted under the umbrella of the ‘Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyan’ and a Union Territory-wide 100-day campaign aimed at enhancing digital security and public awareness.
Instagram’s official Help page confirmed the discontinuation of end-to-end encrypted direct messages on its platform, a detail noted in an update published on Friday.
The Chenab Times News Desk