According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is developing a new chat privacy feature for the Android 2.25.10.14 beta update. Released through the Google Play Beta Program, the new feature will improve privacy in user conversations by restricting the automatic saving of sent media.
When the feature is enabled, videos and images sent in chats will not be automatically saved in the recipient’s gallery. The feature will be optional, with users being allowed to choose if they want to enable it on specific chats. This can be done from the chat info screen, similar to WhatsApp’s disappearing messages.
The restriction will apply to both parties even if only one user has the feature enabled. There is an option to disable it at chat level, however doing so will notify the other user.
This is being introduced as part of a wider “advanced chat privacy” feature set, which also includes the ability to restrict the exporting of chat histories. Though the report notes that its functionality is still limited, as it doesn’t include options to prevent forwarding or screenshotting. That being said, it does come with the ability to restrict Meta AI interaction.
While WABetaInfo states that the feature is discovered through the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.10.14 update available on the Google Play Store, it is currently not available for beta testing. There’s also no word when, or even if, it will be released in a future update.
(Source: WABetaInfo)
Manisha Dharmendra contributed to this article.
