WhatsApp has launched a new feature called Advanced Chat Privacy, which adds greater user control over conversations. The optional tool lets users block others from exporting chats, auto-downloading media, or using content with artificial intelligence tools. While the feature enhances privacy, individual screenshots and manual downloads remain possible even when it’s active. WhatsApp stated this feature works best in sensitive group chats where participants may not know each other well.
The new setting is rolling out to users on the latest WhatsApp version, aiming to help secure private exchanges. This feature aligns with WhatsApp’s broader mission of offering end-to-end encryption and stronger user privacy options. Users who enable it can feel more confident that shared information remains inside the platform. However, the tool does not prevent all forms of data capture, such as screenshots or direct copying of text.
The announcement coincides with regulatory scrutiny of WhatsApp’s parent company, Meta, in the European Union. The European Commission fined Meta €200 million for breaching the Digital Markets Act from March to November 2024. Meta was found to have forced users into a “pay or consent” system without offering a true alternative. The Commission stated that this model limited user control over personal data usage and ad targeting.
The fine applies only to the original model active before Meta introduced a revised version in November 2024. EU regulators are now reviewing whether this updated model complies with the law and uses less personal data. If non-compliance is found, Meta could face further penalties under the Digital Markets Act. In response, Meta criticized the EU’s stance, arguing it harms American firms while sparing others.
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