WhatsApp wants to go further in privacy by blocking screenshots of profile photos

The latest beta version of WhatsApp instant messaging offers a new option to block screenshots of your profile photo. It should be available to everyone in a few weeks.

WhatsApp is one of the most used instant messengers in the world today. Meta’s software is well known for end-to-end encryption of conversations and in recent months, the teams responsible for developing the software have stepped up initiatives to more effectively protect users’ personal data and privacy. Jumbled together, we can cite the appearance of ephemeral messages, or more recently the integration of pseudonyms. WhatsApp is currently testing a brand new option which should strengthen the control we can have over our personal data.

Profile photos will soon be better protected with this new privacy setting

According to the site WABetaInfowhich analyzes the latest builds offered by WhatsApp, the latest version under test, and numbered v2.24.4.25, introduces a new option in the security settings allowing you to block screenshots of your profile photo.

All users will be banned from taking a screenshot of the photo, whether they are already in your contact list or complete strangers. If a screenshot is taken from the smartphone, a pop-up message appears at the bottom of the screen to indicate the reason for the blockage.

The option is not perfect, and it will still be possible to take a photo of the profile picture using another smartphone, but WhatsApp is taking a step in the right direction, which could discourage most users . WhatsApp already offers to hide their profile photo from certain users, whether or not they are present in the contact list.

Currently, only a few users of the test version have access to this feature, which should be deployed more widely in the coming weeks. We will obviously keep you informed when this is the case.

Source : Android Police