WhatsApp Introduces Advanced Chat Privacy, Here's How You Can Make Sensitive Conversations Safer

WhatsApp is adding another layer of privacy for its users with the introduction of the Advanced Chat Privacy feature. This new setting is available in both chats and group conversations and helps prevent others from taking content outside of the messaging platform for when users want extra privacy.

When the Advanced Chat Privacy setting is on, users can block others from exporting chats, auto-downloading media to their phone, and using messages for artificial intelligence features, WhatsApp said in a blog post. The feature aims to give users more confidence by preventing others from taking what is being said outside of the chat.

In particular, WhatsApp groups have become an extension of people's real-world networks, ranging from friends and family to professional and school groups. However, some of these circles are closer, while others aren’t.

WhatsApp said this feature can be particularly helpful in group conversations where you may not know everyone closely but chats are nevertheless sensitive in nature. WhatsApp cited the examples of talking about health challenges in a support group or bringing your community together around a topic that is significant to you.

The feature comes as an addition to the existing privacy functions on the messaging platform. Notably, on WhatsApp, personal messages and calls are protected by end-to-end encryption so that only the sender and recipient can see, listen to or share them. The platform also has other layers of privacy, like disappearing messages and chat lock.

To enable the privacy feature, all you need to do is tap a chat name, then further tap on Advanced Chat Privacy. 

WhatsApp said this is the first version of this feature and it's planning to add more protections to it. This new setting is rolling out to everyone on the latest version of WhatsApp.