WhatsApp Introduces Enhanced Chat Privacy to Boost Security

WhatsApp introduces protection for confidential chats

A new setting makes it more difficult for private WhatsApp messages to leak out. It also blocks the in-house AI. However, you shouldn’t rely on this feature too much.

WhatsApp is currently rolling out the “Enhanced Chat Privacy” feature, which is designed to increase the confidentiality of conversations in the messaging app. The new feature prevents participants from exporting chats and automatically downloading shared images or videos. This is intended to increase the confidentiality of chats for support groups, for example, where sensitive topics are discussed.

The feature will be available to all users with the latest app update. It’s available for both individual and group chats. Once the mode is activated, all chat participants will be notified.

Confidentiality mode also locks out the artificial intelligence (AI) of WhatsApp’s parent company. Meta recently integrated its AI function into its offerings. Not only can users communicate directly with Meta AI, but they can also invite the chatbot to private or group conversations. The newly introduced privacy setting prevents this. However, the prominently placed blue circle  will not disappear from the app.

protection provided by the new feature is limited

In isolation, the protection provided by the new feature is limited. As Trendfitech reports, it’s still possible to forward messages within WhatsApp or take screenshots of chats. Other apps, such as Google’s mobile browser Chrome, however, don’t allow screenshots on the smartphone when incognito mode is enabled. WhatsApp promises in a recent blog post that it will further expand this protection in the future.

Enhanced chat privacy is most effective when used in conjunction with other WhatsApp privacy features. Enabling self-deleting messages, for example, prevents chats from being read later. They are deleted from all participants’ devices after a predetermined period of time. Chat lock hides conversations until you identify yourself with a PIN, password, or biometric features. In addition, WhatsApp’s strong end-to-end encryption prevents chats from being intercepted by third parties, as well as by WhatsApp itself.

New Whatsapp feature: Sharing content can now be made more difficult

Something that should remain private or within a small circle gets shared. This can never be prevented. But a new WhatsApp feature is now supposed to make it more difficult.

Simply copying the text or downloading the image to share it elsewhere: This should no longer be so easy with a new feature in WhatsApp.

Anyone who activates “Enhanced Chat Privacy” in individual or group chats in the future can make it more difficult for content to leave the respective chat. Specifically, exporting the respective chat and automatically downloading media from the chat will be blocked, according to Meta. Furthermore, Meta AI’s AI features will be deactivated within such chats.

Chat protection complements chat lock and self-deleting messages

The new feature is enabled by tapping on the chat name and then selecting “Enhanced Chat Privacy.” Meta says it plans to further expand the feature.

WhatsApp’s current privacy features include self-deleting messages and a chat lock, which allows selected chats to be read only if you unlock them with a password or fingerprint. These can be combined with the new feature.

Protection of sensitive topics

As a possible application example, Meta mentions settings in which one does not know all the people well or personally, but where sensitive topics are nevertheless involved: for example, discussions about health challenges in a self-help group.

In this context, “Netzpolitik.org” criticizes “WhatsApp’s half-hearted approach to data protection and privacy.” While the messaging app enables end-to-end encrypted communication, it stores meaningful metadata.

It may take some time before the new WhatsApp feature is available on all devices. It will be rolled out with the latest version of the messenger for Android and iOS.

Enhanced chat privacy : New WhatsApp feature provides false security

WhatsApp is introducing a new setting designed to enhance privacy protection in select chats. The promised security is deceptive, but it should at least block the new meta AI.

WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that allows users to improve privacy in selected chats, as the Meta subsidiary announced in a blog post. The feature is called Advanced Chat Privacy and can be optionally enabled in both one-on-one and group chats. It is designed to prevent chat content from leaving WhatsApp. Selected chats cannot be exported, and media content is not automatically downloaded.

WhatsApp writes that the feature is especially useful for groups where you’re not close friends but share sensitive content, such as health information. This example alone clearly illustrates how deceptive the security of the new feature is. Chat participants can still take, save, or share screenshots of the content. Anyone chatting with untrusted people shouldn’t disclose anything confidential—with or without Advanced Chat Privacy.

Once again, the new feature demonstrates WhatsApp’s half-hearted approach to data protection and privacy. While the messenger enables end-to-end encrypted communication, it stores meaningful metadata . WhatsApp also releases such data to law enforcement agencies upon request , such as ” names, length of service usage, ‘last seen’ timestamp, IP address, device type, and email address,” as well as “profile pictures, group information, and contact lists.” Even the contact details of people who don’t have WhatsApp can end up on WhatsApp as soon as someone else shares their phone book with WhatsApp .

The new feature allows you to lock out the meta AI

WhatsApp recently added access to Meta AI for many European users . This means that when the language model is used, chat content is transferred to Meta. The new privacy setting is useful in this respect at least. Meta AI should not have access to chats where users activate the Enhanced Chat Privacy option.

To enable the feature, users should tap the chat name and then tap “Enhanced Chat Privacy.” It will gradually roll out to all users over the next few months.

An alternative messenger with significantly more privacy than WhatsApp is Signal, which is recommended by experts. Threema is also considered privacy-friendly, although it does cost a few euros.

Those who prefer a decentralized solution might be better off with XMPP or Matrix. Particularly privacy-conscious users can even use Briar to chat with nearby contacts without needing a connection to a cell tower. IT security researcher Mike Kuketz recently documented how emotional the debate about the right messenger is. He also provides a very detailed messenger comparison.

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Sources used:

• With material from the News agencies  dpa and AFP, ntv.de, Reuters news agency, BBC News and CNN reports. The content has been independently analyzed and rewritten to provide original insights.

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