WhatsApp launches Advanced Chat Privacy feature to protect the content of chats

WhatsApp has begun the global launch of its new Advanced Chat Privacy feature, which enhances chat privacy by blocking the ability to share chat content outside of the app. The tool works in both normal and group chats and is manually activated by the user.

WhatsApp has launched a new global launch of Advanced Chat Privacy, which enhances privacy by blocking the ability to share chat content outside of the app.

When Advanced Chat Privacy is turned on, chat participants won’t be able to export conversations or automatically download media files to their smartphones. Integration with AI assistants will also be blocked. So everything that’s discussed in WhatsApp stays in WhatsApp.

It’s still unclear whether the feature will prevent screenshots from being taken. Meta* representatives have not yet given an official answer to this question.

At this point, it’s still unclear whether the feature will prevent screenshots.

The company says the new feature is especially relevant for chat rooms where participants don’t know each other personally but are discussing sensitive topics. Examples include health support groups and discussions related to community initiatives.

The company said the current version of the tool is just the beginning. WhatsApp plans to add additional layers of protection in the future. The rollout of the feature has already begun, but it may take a few weeks or even months before it is available to all users worldwide.

The feature has already begun to roll out, but it may take a few weeks or even months before it becomes available to all users worldwide.

WhatsApp has previously stood out for its approach to privacy – for example, through end-to-end encryption, disappearing messages and device authentication to access chats. Advanced Chat Privacy will be the next step toward more secure communication.

* Owned by Meta, it is recognized as an extremist organization in the Russian Federation and its activities are banned.