WhatsApp has introduced a new security feature for sensitive chats
Published 5 days ago | By Nouman Shakeel
WhatsApp has begun rolling out a new feature called "Restricted Chats" for Android beta users, allowing them to provide an extra layer of protection for individual chats beyond the existing end-to-end encryption.
This feature is specifically designed to offer enhanced security in scenarios where third-party tools, modified web clients, or AI agents might attempt to access chats via a linked device.
Restricted Access on Linked Devices
Once "Restricted Chats" is enabled, the relevant conversations will no longer be accessible on WhatsApp Web, secondary phones, or other linked devices. This minimizes the risk of sensitive conversations being viewed or forwarded from auxiliary devices.
Under this feature, media files received within a restricted chat will not be automatically saved to the phone's gallery. Additionally, the chat export option will be disabled, giving users greater control over how their conversations and media are stored externally.
Meta AI Features Unavailable
Meta AI features will also be inaccessible within "Restricted Chats." This effectively restricts the use of chat content for analysis by AI-driven features.
Currently, this new feature is being rolled out to Android beta testers; however, a specific release date for the general public has not yet been announced.
