https://blog.whatsapp.com/introducing-advanced-chat-privacy
WhatsApp has rolled out a new “Advanced Chat Privacy” feature designed to provide users with enhanced protection for sensitive information shared in both private and group conversations.
The new privacy option, accessible by tapping on a chat name, aims to prevent the unauthorized extraction of media and conversation content. “Today we’re introducing our latest layer for privacy called ‘Advanced Chat Privacy.’ This new setting available in both chats and groups helps prevent others from taking content outside of WhatsApp for when you may want extra privacy,” WhatsApp announced in its release.
When enabled, the feature blocks other users from exporting chat histories, automatically downloading media to their devices, and using messages for AI features. According to WhatsApp, this ensures “everyone in the chat has greater confidence that no one can take what is being said outside the chat.”
The company noted that this initial version is now available to all users who have updated to the latest version of the app, with plans to strengthen the feature with additional protections in the future. However, WhatsApp acknowledges that certain vulnerabilities remain, such as the possibility of someone photographing a conversation screen even when screenshots are blocked.
This latest privacy enhancement continues WhatsApp’s long-standing commitment to user security, which began nearly seven years ago with the introduction of end-to-end encryption. The platform has steadily expanded its privacy capabilities since then, implementing end-to-end encrypted chat backups for iOS and Android in October 2021, followed by default disappearing messages for new chats in December of the same year.
More recent security updates include chat locking with password or fingerprint protection, a Secret Code feature to hide locked chats, and location hiding during calls by routing connections through WhatsApp’s servers. Since October 2024, the platform has also encrypted contact databases for privacy-preserving synchronization.
Meta reported in early 2020 that WhatsApp serves more than two billion users across over 180 countries, making these privacy enhancements significant for a substantial portion of the global messaging community.