The makers of WhatsApp, one of the world’s most widely used messaging applications, must constantly work to keep the application secure. Be it offering end-to-end encrypted chats or introducing features like Chat Lock, the company has always tried to keep user privacy at the highest level. According to the newly revealed beta version, the Meta-owned chat app may now be on the verge of adding another privacy-focused feature to the app.
WhatsApp brings feature to hide profile picture from selected contacts
WhatsApp currently allows users to hide their profile picture via Settings > Privacy > Profile Photo, with detailed options like Everyone, Nobody, My Contacts, and the ability to hide it from selected contacts in their contacts. However, according to WABetaInfo’s report on WhatsApp beta v2.24.4.25, the chat app is trying to go a step further by restricting other users from taking screenshots of the Profile picture.
My Android phone is also running version 2.24.4.25 of the WhatsApp beta, but I was unable to reproduce the error message, indicating that this is part of a limited rollout of the feature. As WABetaInfo points out, this built-in protection for taking a screenshot of the profile picture won’t restrict people from using another phone’s camera to take a quick picture. It’s currently pretty easy to save a screenshot of a contact using WhatsApp Web, so this is an area that developers should look into.