WhatsApp is looking to introduce a reverse image search feature to its messaging app, based on a recent discovery by WABetaInfo. The new tool was found in the 2.24.21.31 beta update on Android, and is believed to help users verify images received in chats.
Accessing this function is simple: after selecting an image received on WhatsApp, users can tap the three-dot menu in the upper right corner and choose “Search on web.” The app will then search the image with Google, which will then display identical or similar images, allowing users to determine the reliability of the source or the context behind it.
While this type of image verification has long been possible manually, WhatsApp’s new built-in feature makes it more accessible. The new reverse image search feature enables users to verify an image’s authenticity without needing to download or upload it elsewhere. WABetaInfo notes that the image is never processed or stored by WhatsApp, ensuring user privacy throughout the process.
As mentioned earlier, the new reverse image search feature is limited to WhatsApp beta users. Since it is currently in testing, there’s a chance that we’ll only see a public release within weeks or months to come.
(Source: WABetaInfo)
