SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police has issued a cyber awareness advisory urging Instagram users to stay cautious while sharing personal or confidential information on Direct Messages (DMs) after changes in the platform’s privacy settings.
According to a post shared by J&K Police on X, Instagram users should no longer assume that DMs are fully private, as Meta has reportedly discontinued End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) support for Instagram direct messages from May 8, 2026.
“Messages shared on Instagram DMs may no longer remain encrypted and protected the way they previously were,” the advisory stated.
Police said the move is part of Meta’s broader effort to improve online safety monitoring and detect harmful or illegal content more effectively, allowing authorities to take action whenever required.
The cyber advisory warned users against sharing passwords, OTPs, bank account details, personal documents, or sensitive photos and videos through Instagram chats.
J&K Police also advised people to use encrypted platforms for confidential communication and urged users to maintain backups of important chats and media files.
The advisory further reminded users that content removed from the internet may not always disappear permanently, stressing the importance of responsible social media usage and digital privacy awareness.
The awareness message was issued as part of J&K Police’s ongoing cyber safety outreach campaign under the Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyan and the UT-wide 100-day public awareness initiative.
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