WhatsApp is currently testing a new privacy feature aimed at giving users more control over their chats. This feature, dubbed advanced chat privacy, allows users to block others from easily exporting their chat history or automatically saving photos and videos to their device’s gallery.
According to WABetaInfo, the feature is available in the latest beta versions of WhatsApp for both iOS and Android. When enabled, it prevents other participants in a single or group chat from exporting the entire conversation outside of WhatsApp.
Additionally, media such as images and videos shared within the chat will no longer be automatically saved to users’ phone galleries, although it’s unclear if users can still manually save them.
In group chats, everyone will be notified when this setting is turned on. Additionally, the feature disables the Meta AI tool that typically assists in generating responses or content within chats. However, while this setting prevents exporting the entire chat, individual messages can still be forwarded or screenshots can be taken.
For those looking for even more privacy, WhatsApp’s existing disappearing messages feature can be used to automatically delete chats after a set time. Currently, this advanced privacy option is only available in beta, with no official word on when it will be made available to all users.
