WhatsApp is reportedly testing a new privacy feature that will give users more control over their shared media and conversations. According to WABetaInfo, the Meta-owned messaging platform is working on an “advanced chat privacy” setting that prevents recipients from saving images and videos and restricts chat exports. This move aligns with WhatsApp’s ongoing efforts to enhance user privacy, similar to its existing Disappearing Messages feature.
The upcoming feature will allow users to disable media downloads in a chat, meaning recipients can view photos and videos but cannot save them to their devices. This is particularly useful for sensitive content, ensuring that shared media doesn’t get stored permanently on another person’s phone. Additionally, the feature will block chat exports, preventing users from saving or forwarding chat histories when enabled.
Currently, WhatsApp allows users to export chat logs, either as text files or through email. However, with this new setting, if a user enables advanced privacy, others in the chat won’t be able to export the conversation. This could be beneficial for confidential discussions, business communications, or personal chats where users want to limit data retention.
While the feature strengthens privacy, it comes with some trade-offs. Most notably, participants in a chat with advanced privacy enabled will not be able to use Meta AI WhatsApp’s AI-powered assistant in any form. This could be a drawback for users who rely on AI for quick replies, translations, or other automated functions.
WhatsApp has been steadily introducing privacy-focused features, such as end-to-end encryption, View Once media, and Disappearing Messages. This new addition further empowers users to control how their data is stored and shared. While the exact rollout date is unknown, the feature is currently in testing and may soon be available to beta users before a wider release.
As digital privacy concerns grow, WhatsApp’s move to restrict media downloads and chat exports could set a new standard for secure messaging. However, users will have to weigh the benefits of enhanced privacy against the limitations, such as restricted AI functionality. If implemented well, this could be a game-changer for those prioritizing confidentiality in their conversations.
