All articles tagged with #whatsapp
WhatsApp is rolling out new features to simplify storage management, enable easier switching between multiple WhatsApp accounts, and enhance backups and chat transfers across devices, alongside improvements to media handling and privacy options.
WhatsApp is rolling out multiple quality-of-life updates: iOS users can sign into two accounts on one device with a visible profile photo cue to verify which persona you’re messaging; chat histories can be transferred more easily across platforms and devices, and large files can be deleted directly from chats to free storage. Meta AI-powered light photo editing (background removal, style changes, element removal) and a Writing Help prompt for drafting messages are also included, with privacy assurances. The features are arriving to users now and should be available to all soon.
Engadget reports that Meta has released an official WhatsApp app for select Garmin smartwatches via the Connect IQ Store, letting users read and reply to messages, send emojis, view chat history, and accept/decline calls — all with end-to-end encryption. Availability is model-specific (Forerunner, Venu, Vivoactive, and Fenix devices), and compatibility must be checked in Garmin Connect IQ Store; this follows a WhatsApp app launch on Apple Watch last year.
Meta will end end-to-end encryption for Instagram direct messages on May 8, 2026, affecting only a small subset of opt-in users in select regions. Affected users will be able to export their chats/media before encryption is removed, and those on older app versions may need to update to retrieve conversations. The move follows low adoption of E2E on Instagram and comes amid ongoing privacy vs. safety debates among regulators and advocates; WhatsApp remains Meta’s primary E2E platform, and Meta’s encryption work continues on Messenger. Meta says the removal will happen soon and has faced criticism from privacy advocates.
OpenClaw is a self-hosted AI assistant that runs on your devices and connects to popular apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, and more. This guide walks you through installing OpenClaw, selecting an LLM provider, adding skills (via SKILL.md files and optional ClawHub), and configuring a WhatsApp channel by linking your number with a QR code. It then covers starting the OpenClaw Gateway, which acts as the control plane for channels and sessions, and using the Gateway dashboard to connect with the saved gateway token. Once set up, you can chat with OpenClaw in WhatsApp and use it as a private automation hub across tools and services, with both local and cloud LLM options and extensive integrations.
The European Commission plans to impose interim measures to prevent Meta from excluding third‑party AI assistants from WhatsApp during an ongoing antitrust investigation into Meta’s AI policy, after preliminarily finding a breach of EU rules. Measures would require Meta to maintain access to WhatsApp under pre‑policy terms while the probe continues. Meta contests the approach, arguing there are many AI options and that WhatsApp Business API isn’t a key distribution channel. The action follows a string of 2025 fines against major tech firms for rule breaches.
Meta is rolling out 'Strict Account Settings'—a lockdown mode for WhatsApp that adds extreme privacy controls for high-risk users (e.g., journalists), including enforced two-step verification, blocking media/attachments from unknown senders, silencing unknown calls, hiding last seen/online status, restricting profile details, and more; the feature is activated from the main device and will roll out gradually, with a backend Rust migration to boost protection against spyware.
WhatsApp is rolling out Strict Account Settings aimed at high-risk users (e.g., journalists and public figures). It automatically blocks attachments and media from unknown senders, silences calls from unknown contacts, and can restrict link previews, group additions, and visibility of profile details on the primary device, as part of a broader security push following spyware incidents and ongoing privacy concerns.
WhatsApp has introduced Strict Account Settings, a one‑click privacy feature designed for high‑risk users (such as journalists and public figures). It blocks attachments from unknown senders, disables link previews, and silences calls from unknown contacts, while regular chats remain protected by end‑to‑end encryption. The rollout will be global in the coming weeks and is aimed at providing extra safeguards against sophisticated cyberattacks.
WhatsApp deployed a Rust-based media library across billions of devices, replacing 160k lines of C++ with 90k lines of Rust to boost memory-safety and performance. Sparked by the Stagefright vulnerability, the rollout used fuzzing and tests to ensure compatibility, and introduced Kaleidoscope checks to flag dangerous, non-conformant, or spoofed files. The effort spans Android, iOS, Mac, Web, wearables, and more—the largest Rust deployment on client-side platforms—and signals broader Rust adoption for defense-in-depth security.
Meta is planning trials for premium subscriptions across its core apps to unlock expanded AI features and extra tools, including Vibes and Manus, while keeping the free services. Each app could have its own set of benefits, but pricing and exact details are not yet disclosed.
WhatsApp is reportedly testing a paid, ad-free subscription option that would remove ads from status updates and channels. The core messaging features would remain free, but the €4/month plan could also hide channel suggestions; rollout timing is not yet clear.
Under the EU's DMA, BirdyChat becomes the first European chat app to be interoperable with WhatsApp for users in the European Economic Area. In practice, WhatsApp’s opt-in requirement and regional limitation mean many users won’t be able to chat cross‑platform, and BirdyChat currently supports only 1:1 chats with group interoperability planned for a later update.
The FTC will appeal a ruling that Meta does not hold a monopoly in personal social networking, arguing that Meta illegally maintained dominance through anti-competitive acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp; Meta contends it faces robust competition, and the revived case will be weighed by a new judge amid ongoing political tensions around the tech regulator’s actions.
WhatsApp offers various features to enhance user security and privacy, including Privacy Checkup, disappearing messages, two-factor authentication, app and chat lock, advanced security settings, and options to disable read receipts and media downloads, helping users protect their conversations from threats and unauthorized access.