Meta has denied claims of a large-scale Instagram data breach after reports surfaced that information associated with 17.5 million users may have been exposed.

In a statement to Hindustan Times, a Meta spokesperson said, "We fixed an issue that allowed an external party to request password reset emails for some Instagram users. We want to reassure everyone that there was no breach of our systems, and people’s Instagram accounts remain secure. People can disregard these emails, and we apologise for any confusion this may have caused."

The clarification comes after several Instagram users reported receiving unexpected password reset emails last week, prompting fears of a possible security breach.

Also read: Your data isn’t safe: New cyber espionage plot targets India’s top institutions

Cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes had claimed that the incident was linked to leaked data, including usernames, physical addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses, which could be exploited for phishing attacks, impersonation scams, and account takeovers.

Meta emphasised that the issue did not involve unauthorised access to its systems, and no user accounts were compromised. The company urged users to ignore the emails and reaffirmed that Instagram accounts remain secure.

Also read: Did Aadhaar face a data breach? Govt clarifies in Parliament

Malwarebytes had discovered the alleged leak during its routine dark web monitoring and cautioned users about potential misuse of the information, especially through Instagram’s password reset process.