The new European Privacy Policy is now in effect, which complicates the lives of Facebook and its other apps, such as WhatsApp and Instagram, in Europe. The privacy laws of the European public on the internet are dealt with by Europe’s Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive. This organization’s concern is how Facebook stores the data of European users and the type of data it collects. This concern has led to some rules on Facebook on how to handle user data. Facebook is known for collecting excessive data from users – more than it actually needs. To comply with European privacy rules, it must reduce some features. The latest feature that is unavailable to Europeans is disappearing photos on Instagram via DM.
It all started with Snowden’s revelation of how US intelligence agencies, especially the NSA, collect data of every individual present on the internet without their consent. The program included data gathering from Apple, Google, and Facebook in the name of national security. The data collected contains chats, files, emails, and access to the laptop’s webcam.
The latest order from EU privacy guardians is to stop Facebook from sending European users’ data from the EU to the US. Regarding these orders and data movement, Facebook has begun to restrict certain features for European citizens. Group polls on Messenger chat are the first feature that will lose its existence. Now, the second feature is the ability to delete photos on Instagram. People call it the monopoly of Facebook, giving it a free hand in Europe. Let us see where it takes us, the users.
Disappearing Pictures (View Once & Allow Reply) on Instagram via DM
The latest feature under the axe is disappearing photos on Instagram via DM. People using Instagram in Europe cannot send pictures to their friends and family like a Snap. A feature that was first introduced in Snapchat and was copied by Instagram. So, you can send a picture to a friend or family member; the image won’t be saved on the phone. It will be available to be watched only once, and then it will be gone.
However, these disappearing pictures or messenger insights can only be sent to people who have approved your messaging requests or who already follow you. The other feature, where you can send a photo as a DM, is still there. You can use it to send a picture to a friend. Another feature is that the image appears to the other person as a story. Unfortunately, it is no longer available to Instagram users in the European region. As you can see in the screenshot below, the error is “This can’t be sent because of new rules for messaging services in Europe.”
To implement and comply with the ePrivacy Directive of the EEA (European Economic Area). As a result, a few more features from Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp might be cut down. On the other hand, the EU can also happen to cut down Facebook and its services entirely. As the EU has requested that the data servers of European users be moved to Europe. Alongside this, the EU has asked Facebook to pay taxes on the money it earns from Europe. Facebook does not want to accept these terms, which might result in Facebook services being removed from the EU.
The privacy laws of WhatsApp for the EEA region differ from those in the rest of the world. Recently, WhatsApp introduced a new policy requiring users to share some of their data, including phone numbers, transaction data, information on how they interact with others, and device information, with Facebook. This raises significant privacy concerns for the general public worldwide. In turn, millions of WhatsApp users moved to either Telegram or Signal. Both of these apps are known for respecting their users’ privacy. Signal saw a surge of 7,5 million new downloads from the Google Play Store and Apple Store. At the same time, 5,6 million people joined Telegram.
How to send disappearing photos on Instagram via direct message in Europe?
A workaround for this, as this feature is still working in the US and other continents. So, the only option available is to install an older version of Instagram. However, as my friends living in other parts of the world have confirmed, they can still send disappearing photos on Instagram via DM.
To send disappearing photos on Instagram via Direct Messages in the UK and EU on Android phones, follow the steps below:
- First, you need to download the older version of Instagram from this link.
- Now, go to your phone’s Security Settings and enable ‘Download and Install from Unknown Sources’. You can also give this permission when you click on the downloaded Instagram APK.
- Once the permissions are given, download and install Instagram on your Android phone.
- Once downloaded, you’re all set. Now, you can send disappearing photos on Instagram via DM even while you are in the UK.
If you have any other working method, do share it with us.
