WhatsApp is reinforcing privacy of user chats. The Meta-owned company has launched “Advanced Chat Privacy,” a new setting designed to provide an additional layer of protection for sensitive conversations in both individual and group chats.
The newly-unveiled “Advanced Chat Privacy” setting empowers users to further restrict the sharing and retention of content within WhatsApp.
“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 said.
How to enable Advanced Chat Privacy and how it works
When activated for a specific chat or group, this feature prevents other participants from exporting the chat history, automatically downloading media to their devices and utilising messages for AI features.
This aims to provide all members of the conversation with assurance that the content shared will remain within the confines of the WhatsApp environment, the company says.
Users can enable “Advanced Chat Privacy” by accessing the chat information.
- Tap on the chat name
- Select the “Advanced Chat Privacy” option
- Turn it to “On”
This new privacy setting is currently being rolled out to all users who have updated to the latest version of the WhatsApp application. WhatsApp emphasises that this is the initial iteration of the feature, with plans for future enhancements to incorporate even more protective measures.
The latest feature builds upon the company’s foundation of end-to-end encryption that allows personal messages and calls only accessible to the sender and recipient. Other privacy features that WhatsApp has released include disappearing messages and chat lock.
