Instagram Faces Legal Hurdle Over End-to-End Encryption Changes

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has instructed a petitioner to seek recourse from India's Data Protection Board after contesting Instagram's decision to cease end-to-end encrypted messaging by May 8, 2026. The court emphasized the need for a detailed response from the Board within 15 days of receiving the petition.

The petition, launched by local attorney Parth Sharma, argues that Instagram's notification breaches privacy rights under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The Additional Solicitor General stated that the matter doesn't suit public interest litigation and should be addressed through statutory channels provided by the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.

Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi expressed that the complaint should first be examined per Section 18 of the DPDP Act. The Board is required to hold a hearing and issue a reasoned decision before May 6, 2026, following which the High Court will continue proceedings.