WhatsApp’s New Data Protection Feature Offers Limited Security, Raises Privacy Concerns
WhatsApp has introduced an enhanced data protection function, but users should be aware that it does not provide complete security. The feature does not prevent users from taking screenshots or forwarding messages to others. Thus, sharing sensitive information in large group chats remains risky, even with the extended chat data protection enabled.
Despite the new feature, all communications on WhatsApp remain end-to-end encrypted by default. However, when users interact with content referencing artificial intelligence, related news content is transmitted to Meta. Moreover, according to Netzpolitik.org,Meta continuously collects data including user names,the time of last online activity,IP addresses,and other user data.
WhatsApp users are also advised to protect themselves against fraudulent schemes targeting millions of users.(phs)
