WhatsApp announced on Wednesday it’s launching a new feature that will allow users to add an extra layer of privacy to chats. The new “Advanced Chat Privacy” setting prevents you and the people you’re chatting with from exporting chats and auto-downloading media to their phone.
The setting also prevents users from mentioning Meta AI in messages or asking Meta AI questions.
The idea behind the feature is to give everyone in a group reassurance that no one can take what is being shared and said outside the chat.
It’s worth noting that users can still take individual screenshots. WhatsApp says it plans to add more functionality to Advanced Chat Privacy in the future to include even more protections, so it’s possible that the company may prevent screenshots in a future version of the feature.
The Meta-owned company notes that this feature could be helpful in situations where participants may not know each other well but are discussing sensitive topics. For example, you may be discussing health challenges in a support group or organizing around a meaningful community issue.
You can turn on the new setting by tapping the chat name and selecting the “Advanced Chat Privacy” option.
The feature is rolling out gradually over the coming months and will be available in both chats and groups.
While WhatsApp chats are already protected with end-to-end encryption, Advanced Chat Privacy gives users an extra level of privacy. The new setting joins WhatsApp’s suite of privacy-focused features, which includes disappearing messages and chat lock.
