J&K Police Issues Advisory on Instagram DM Privacy Changes, Urges Caution in Data Sharing

Srinagar, May 10: Jammu and Kashmir Police has issued a public advisory cautioning social media users about changes in Instagram’s Direct Message (DM) privacy framework and the risks linked to sharing sensitive information online.

In a post on X, the J&K Police stated that many users assume Instagram DMs are fully private, but this perception may no longer hold true following platform-level changes effective May 8, 2026.

The police said Instagram will no longer support end-to-end encryption for direct messages, noting that messages may not remain protected in the same manner as before.

According to the advisory, Meta has implemented the change as part of broader online safety measures aimed at improving detection of harmful or illegal content and assisting law enforcement agencies when required.

J&K Police emphasised the need for users to adopt responsible digital behaviour and remain alert while sharing personal data on social media platforms.

The advisory specifically cautioned users against sharing passwords, one-time passwords, bank details, personal documents, or sensitive photographs through Instagram DMs. It also advised the use of encrypted platforms for confidential communication.

Users were further advised to maintain backups of important conversations and media files, with the reminder that deleted online content may not always be permanently removed from digital systems.