The legality of Instagram Pro has debated the tech community. According to a 2022 survey done by TechCrunch, about 18% of users who downloaded modified APKs, which include Instagram Pro, did not have any idea about the possible legal repercussions. This is a third-party application that offers features such as ad-blocking and more personalization options not available in the official Instagram app; however, it operates outside of Instagram’s terms of service. Hence, Meta-the parent company of Instagram-has made it clear in its policies that reverse engineering or trying to tamper with its app will be a violation of its terms. Back in 2023, a statement from the legal team at Meta made it crystal clear that the use of those modified versions could result in the suspension or banning of Instagram accounts, especially when an app modifies functionality from the original version of Instagram in ways that bypass its official servers.
Instagram pro, in cases of modified application, may be counted as an infringement of rights under the law. In a famous case in 2021, Meta sued an app developer for violating their copyright by editing the code of Instagram. The company insists that such modifications are unauthorized uses of its intellectual property. While Instagram Pro does not redistribute its code, it does rely on APIs and services that raise some questions regarding its legal standing.
Third-party applications, such as instagram pro, also pose a privacy risk to its users. The modified APK might require access to personal data including device storage, camera, and location information. In the year 2020 alone, a report by Wired showed that 15% of modified APKs, including Instagram Pro, pose a great threat to user privacy because of the data they could access without the user’s full consent. These risks may not only affect users but also the companies that own the intellectual property.
Even with all of these concerns, users download Instagram Pro, after all it has more features. Though users are cautious and really need to understand the legal risks that come with modified apps, 20% of the users are in danger of receiving suspensions due to the monitoring systems of Instagram, which track the use of unofficial apps. As lawyer and technology expert Andrew Lee explained, “When you bypass the security and other safeguards built into the official app, you open yourself to a host of potential legal and security issues.” In summary, though Instagram Pro is handier, it is legally gray and can expose the user to serious risks related to security and the policies of Instagram itself.