WhatsApp Tests New Chat Feature for Improved Privacy

Does your friend in the group chat always struggle to keep their mouth shut? Well, WhatsApp is stepping in to address that issue with its upcoming “advanced chat privacy” feature. This new update, currently in beta testing, gives you the ability to prevent others from exporting chats or automatically saving the photos and media you share without your permission.

According to a report from WABetaInfo, this new toggle was noticed in the latest app beta versions for both Android and iOS over the weekend. The purpose of “advanced chat privacy,” applicable to individual and group discussions alike, is to empower users with greater control over the information they share, thereby minimizing the chances of inadvertent leaks or unauthorized sharing of data outside the chat environment.

When you activate the “advanced chat privacy” feature, all participants in a chat will be informed of this change. This setting prevents users from downloading the entire chat history or saving media files directly to their devices, which is especially crucial when sensitive information is involved. Additionally, this feature disables Meta AI’s functionalities within the chat, which normally responds to inquiries and creates images. It’s important to note that this privacy setting must be enabled for each chat individually; it won’t apply across all conversations by default. You’ll need to access the settings for each specific chat to turn the feature on.

While this feature marks a progressive step towards enhancing privacy on WhatsApp, users should remain cautious. It’s still possible for individuals within the chat to take screenshots or record screens of the content, as WhatsApp has opted not to include screenshot detection capabilities. This means that even with the privacy settings, shared media can still be captured, whether on mobile devices or through WhatsApp Web. Therefore, exercise discretion regarding whom you add to chats and the information you share.

WhatsApp has yet to announce an official release date for the “advanced chat privacy” feature, as it is still under beta testing. Stay tuned for updates regarding this important addition to your messaging experience.