WhatsApp is doing this to prevent your chats from leaking to AI agents and unofficial clients
Follow UsThe restricted chats feature is expected to bring restrains for chat exports, automatic media saves, Meta AI use or linked-device access for messages.
These chats will not sync to WhatsApp Web or other linked devices, limiting access through unofficial clients and AI agents.
The feature replaces Advanced Chat Privacy and is rolling out to select Android beta testers.
WhatsApp, Meta’s instant messaging platform, introduces new features and enhancements across Android, iOS and web experiences at regular intervals to continuously improve the user experience. Soon after introducing parental controls for teen accounts, the company is reportedly testing a feature that will let users restrict chats from recipients’ linked devices alongside the existing typical export chat, Meta AI features and media auto-download restrictions.
SurveyAccording to WABetaInfo, the company is testing replacing the “Advanced chat privacy” feature with “Restricted chat”, while adding primary device limitations. This could be due to the confusion with the previous naming that could lead some users to assume relatively less privacy if they do not enable this optional feature. The change is reportedly rolling out to select Android beta testers.
Also Read: WhatsApp introduces new parental controls for teen accounts: Here is what parents can control
The feature could debut in the chat info screen and enable four restrictions for chats with a person: The person on the other side of the chat will not be able to save chat media to their device automatically or export the chat. Plus, they will also be restricted from using Meta AI in the chat with you.
Lastly, the user will also be restricted from using linked devices to access your chats. This will help prevent “people in the chat from using unofficial clients or AI Agents to access” your conversations, according to the feature description in the WhatsApp beta Android app shared by WABetaInfo. This will help limit unofficial tools (who generally rely on linked devices) from accessing conversations.
Once turned on, messages in a chat will be restricted to both entities’ primary devices. This safeguard adds to the existing end-to-end encryption protocol for message privacy. Meanwhile, the platform is also exploring a refined look for the bottom navigation bar without text labels. This could give the bar an iPhone-like look.
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Further, the company introduced parental controls for teen accounts on the platform recently. These add safeguards and access restrictions for a parent’s child so that they experience a controlled environment on the platform. You can read more about this here.
