As part of a series of actions Meta (previously Facebook) is taking in response to the Russia-Ukraine war, which have included restricting state media and increased efforts around fact-checking, the company also announced it’s making encrypted one-to-one chats in Instagram available to all adults in both Ukraine and Russia.
Users on Instagram will also be alerted to the option by way of a notification that appears at the top of their direct message inbox, which informs them they can switch over to an encrypted conversation if they choose.
Other Meta-owned apps, including Messenger and WhatsApp, have already offered end-to-end encryption. On WhatsApp, it’s the default. However, default end-to-end encryption won’t fully arrive on Messenger until sometime in 2023, but the company has offered the option to enable end-to-end encryption for text chats on Messenger for many years. In addition, it fully rolled out end-to-end encrypted group chats and calls in Messenger back in January.
The company explained its decision to make the safety features available across both Ukraine and Russia. It suggested Russian activists speaking out against the war could also be at risk without the option.
“Prominent Russians creators and influencers, activists and musicians, are using Facebook and Instagram to access information and speak out against the invasion,” said Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, who was recently upgraded from his VP status. “We want them to continue to be able to do so. And we want people in Russia to continue to be able to hear from President Zelenskyy and others in Ukraine,” he added.
The company has made several other changes in recent days as the crisis has unfolded, even as the Russian government has restricted access to Meta’s services.
For end users, the changes aren’t limited to encrypted Instagram DMs. The company also rolled out safety features for users in Ukraine and Russia, including the ability for people to lock their Facebook profile and remove the ability to view and search friend lists, Clegg noted. The “Lock Profile” feature was first launched in 2020 as a safety option for women in India. It prevents Facebook users from viewing the posts and photos of people they’re not friends with, and restricts them from zooming into or downloading those users’ profile pictures or cover photos, as well.
FAQs
The content of your messages and calls in an end-to-end encrypted chat is protected from the moment it leaves your device to the moment it reaches the receiver's device. This means that nobody during this delivery, including Meta, can see or listen to what's sent or said.
Why does Instagram think my account is based in Russia? ›
This can happen if you have used a VPN or accessed Instagram from a location with a Russian IP address, or if you have entered a Russian billing address or payment method. To resolve this issue, you can contact Instagram support and provide them with details about your account and your location.
What happens if you use Instagram in Russia? ›
Because of a lack of a strict no-logs policy, your Instagram data could be made available to Russian authorities. Also, you're likely to be bombarded with ads and malware while using a free VPN to access Instagram.
Does Russia have access to Instagram? ›
The only way to access Instagram in Russia is through a VPN. With a virtual private network, you can bypass geo-blocks and online restrictions and use your Instagram account freely. To use Instagram in Russia with a VPN, just follow our quick guide below: Get a subscription with a VPN.
Are Instagram DMs really private? ›
Yes, Instagram direct messages are private and don't show up in your brand's feed, profile, or in search. They won't show up publicly for your followers, either. Only you and those you are communicating with directly can see the DMs.
Can Instagram direct messages be traced? ›
Your all activity on internet is binded to a dedicated host of IP which has a record of whatever you do on internet and inside a website or an app. Hence Instagram direct messages can be traced too.
Can someone track my location through Instagram? ›
Can I see someone's location on Instagram without them knowing? No, Instagram does not provide a feature to view someone's location without their consent. Users can only see the location of those who have chosen to share it with them.
Does Russia monitor Instagram? ›
SOCIAL MEDIA USERS 'SHOULDN'T FEEL SAFE'
Most involved users of the popular Russian social media platform VKontakte, which reportedly cooperates with authorities. As the crackdown widened, authorities also targeted Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Telegram.
Why was Instagram banned in Russia? ›
As of March 20, 2022, Russian users spent 11 minutes per day on Instagram on average. Instagram was blocked in Russia started from March 14, 2022 after Meta was claimed an extremist organization in Russia due to its response to the invasion of Ukraine.
What social media do Russians use? ›
Russian Social Media
- VK (or Vkontakte) is Russia's largest social network, with 46.6 million unique monthly viewers (mainly teens)
- Moi Mir, a social networking site that is an extension of the email provider Mail.ru, is quickly developing into a social hub, with average monthly users of 25 million.
List of apps banned
- WeChat was banned for a week in 2017.
- Telegram (2018 - 2020)
- JW Library app was banned on March 31, 2021.
- Alexei Navalny app.
- Line (software)
- Discord, Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, Snapchat, Telegram, Threema, Viber, WhatsApp, WeChat within government organizations (2023)
Can I use a VPN with Instagram? Yes, you can use a VPN with Instagram. A VPN will improve your online security and privacy without preventing you from accessing Instagram content.
How many people in Russia use Instagram? ›
Russia had nearly 64 million Instagram users in January 2024. The user count steadily increased until January 2022, when it reached over 65 million.
Is Facebook still banned in Russia? ›
As of July 2022, the only countries to continually ban access to the social networking site are China, Iran, North Korea, Myanmar, Russia, Turkmenistan and Uganda.
Is Snapchat allowed in Russia? ›
The services listed as part of the ban are: Discord, Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, Snapchat, Telegram, Threema, Viber, WhatsApp and WeChat.
Can Instagram read your direct messages? ›
Instagram doesn't read your texts.
Are direct messages secure? ›
Direct messages are encrypted with the key of a channel you share with the recipient.
Is Instagram safe for sending private photos? ›
Is Instagram safe for sending private photos? Instagram lets you send images through end-to-end encrypted chats, so it's more secure than some other platforms. That being said, the user you're sending images to is entirely free to share your images publicly. So, only ever send private photos to those you 100% trust.
Does Instagram app use encryption? ›
Secure storage remotely stores your end-to-end encrypted messages. If you turn on secure storage, you can get your full message history whenever you log into Instagram from a new device using the security method mentioned below that you choose.
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