Encrypted messaging app WhatsApp is testing a new feature that allows users to control whether other chat members can export the chats you’ve conducted with them, or automatically save media you send them.
WaBetaInfo refers to the new option as an “advanced chat privacy feature” and is tied to a toggle switch in a recent beta version of WhatsApp for iOS. Enabling the feature for a chat prevents users in an individual or group chat from exporting the entire history of the chat for use outside of WhatsApp.
If the feature is toggled on in a group chat, all users in the chat are automatically notified that advanced chat privacy has been enabled. Turning on the toggle also disables Meta AI, which lets users interact with a chat bot as part of the wider conversation.
Enabling the advanced chat privacy feature also reportedly prevents shared media from being automatically saved to other users’ camera rolls. However, it isn’t clear whether it also prevents manual exporting of photos and video.
Users can still forward individual messages or screenshot them when the setting is enabled, so it’s not a total protective solution.
The feature is currently in beta testing and it isn’t clear when the new advanced chat privacy feature will be available to the general public.
