Two major social media platforms, Instagram and TikTok, have reversed their stance on end-to-end encryption for direct messages, allowing them to scan content and act on it. Meta will regain the technical ability to access message content starting May 8, while TikTok never offered the protection in the first place.
This move comes after regulatory pressure from The Take It Down Act, which requires platforms to remove non-consensual intimate imagery within 48 hours of a valid request. Experts say that end-to-end encryption had made this compliance nearly impossible.
“End-to-end encryption is not keeping people safe,” says Brian Long, CEO and co-founder of Adaptive Security. “It’s giving bad actors more runway to run scams and attacks.”
The move aims to prevent AI-powered attacks, including deepfakes and voice cloning, which are growing at an estimated 17 times year over year.
While some may argue that lifting encryption is a serious concession, others see it as necessary to stop bad actors. “Companies are recognizing there are downsides to privacy,” Long says. “This correction is needed to prevent more attacks.”
Source: https://fortune.com/2026/03/17/tiktok-meta-no-privacy-controls-why-explainer