Search for Instagram users by name or username. Args: query: Search term (name or username). count: Maximum number of users to return (default 10, max 50). Returns: A dictionary with success status and search results.
AI agents call search_users to retrieve information from Instagram DM MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool performs a read-only query operation to search and retrieve publicly available user information on Instagram. It has no side effects, does not modify data, and does not execute code or trigger external operations.
From the tool's definition Tool retrieves search results for Instagram users by name or username. Description states it 'Search for Instagram users' and returns 'search results' with no indication of data modification, deletion, or execution of commands. Action is purely informational.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access search_users gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Instagram DM MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for search_users:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"search_users": {}
}
}search_users is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
Free to start. No card required.
Search for Instagram users by name or username. Args: query: Search term (name or username). count: Maximum number of users to return (default 10, max 50). Returns: A dictionary with success status and search results. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Instagram DM MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Instagram DM MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_users: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Instagram DM MCP Server. Nothing to install.
search_users is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the search_users rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for search_users. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
search_users is provided by the Instagram DM MCP Server MCP server (trypeggy/instagram_dm_mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 25 Instagram DM MCP Server tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
Free to start. No card required.
25 Instagram DM MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.