WhatsApp has announced an upgrade to user privacy with the rollout of its new “Advanced Chat Privacy” feature.
This tool is designed to give users greater control over how their conversations are shared and stored, especially in group chats where not all participants may be personally acquainted.
The Advanced Chat Privacy setting primarily restricts export of chat messages and download shared media, such as photos, videos, and files, to other apps like email, messaging, or note-taking platforms. This ensures that private or sensitive information discussed in WhatsApp stays within the app and is not easily shared beyond it.
Another key aspect of the new feature is its integration with Meta AI. Under normal settings, Meta AI can analyse chat content to generate responses, suggest actions, or even create images based on prompts within a conversation.
However, this access is blocked with Advanced Chat Privacy enabled, ensuring that the AI cannot interact with or learn from the messages in those chats.
WhatsApp is positioning this feature as particularly useful in scenarios involving large group chats, workplace discussions, or events where participants might not all know each other well. It offers an added layer of protection, making sure that what’s said in the chat stays in the chat.
Currently, the feature does not prevent screenshots or manual copying of text and media, but WhatsApp has stated that this is just the first version of the feature. More comprehensive privacy tools are expected in future updates, including potential controls for screenshots and more granular privacy settings.
The Advanced Chat Privacy feature is already available in the latest version of the WhatsApp app. Users can activate it by heading to the chat settings of a conversation and enabling the option under “Advanced Chat Privacy.”
