WhatsApp is enhancing user privacy with a new ‘Advanced Chat Privacy’ feature, offering greater control over conversation data and limiting unauthorized export of information. This feature allows users to block others from exporting chat histories and automatically downloading shared media, such as photos and videos. Furthermore, it restricts the use of chat data by Meta AI, preventing functionalities like asking AI questions or generating images within a protected conversation.
While WhatsApp previously allowed saving media to local storage and chat exports to external apps, the ‘Advanced Chat Privacy’ aims to restrict these actions in both individual and group chats. A WhatsApp spokesperson clarified that the feature doesn’t prevent screenshots or manual media downloads. The company emphasizes that this is the initial version, hinting at future updates and improvements.
WhatsApp recommends the feature for group chats with less-acquainted participants discussing sensitive topics. Discovered by WABetaInfo earlier this month, the ‘Advanced Chat Privacy’ option is now available in the latest WhatsApp app version. Users can enable it by navigating to the chat name and selecting ‘Advanced Chat Privacy’.