WhatsApp’s adding an additional layer of chat safety, with a new “Advanced Chat Privacy” option, that will further restrict how people can re-use your WhatsApp posts.
As you can see in these example screens, “Advanced Chat Privacy” is a new toggle within your chat options, available for both direct and group chats, which institutes additional protections on your content.
As explained by WhatsApp:
“When the setting is on, you can block others from exporting chats, auto-downloading media to their phone, and using messages for AI features. That way everyone in the chat has greater confidence that no one can take what is being said outside the chat.”
So, essentially, the setting ups the privacy restrictions, for those who are really paranoid about their private information leaking out of the app.
Which is a significant consideration. WhatsApp’s seen a significant rise in interest of late, as more and more people look to ensure that their private chats remain that way, with the app’s end-to-end encryption keeping prying eyes out of their business.
Broader concerns about privacy, stemming from high-profile DM leaks, and the use of personal information for AI training, have prompted many to seek safer alternatives, and WhatsApp’s focus on E2E has made it a valuable platform for many.
As such, adding “Advanced Chat Privacy” will likely benefit the app’s more secure reputation, and you can imagine that many people will indeed be activating that option as soon as it becomes available.
“We think this feature is best used when talking with groups where you may not know everyone closely but are nevertheless sensitive in nature, like talking about health challenges in a support group or organizing your community about something important to you. You can turn this on by tapping the chat name, then tapping on Advanced Chat Privacy.”
WhatsApp also notes that this is the first version of this feature, with more advanced protections also coming to further secure your chats.
It’s a good move by WhatsApp, which will help to underline its core value proposition. And again, with so many broader concerns about privacy, that value is rising every day.
