Instagram and the ongoing erosion of E2EE: Is the EU failing to protect private communications?

Hi everyone,

I am writing to bring attention to a critical issue that threatens the digital privacy of millions of EU citizens: the systematic erosion of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) in messaging platforms.

Recent moves ,most notably the decision by Instagram to discontinue E2EE for its direct messages, highlights a dangerous trend. 

While the EU has recently made strides in pushing back against mass-scanning proposals like "Chat Control," it seems that private companies are now taking over by dismantling the technical safeguards that protect our communications.

Are we witnessing a shift where E2EE is becoming an "optional" feature rather than a standard for secure communication?

I believe this is a defining moment for digital rights in Europe. If the EU is truly committed to the protection of fundamental rights and cybersecurity, why are major platforms allowed to unilaterally downgrade the security of their services for EU users?

I am interested in hearing the community's thoughts:

How can we advocate for E2EE to be legally recognized as the default standard for messaging services in the EU?

Is there a path to challenge these "unilateral downgrades" of security by Big Tech within the current European legislative framework?

I look forward to an insightful discussion.