Major WhatsApp update enables secret chats

Chat Lock feature hides conversations in biometric-locked folder

Anthony Cuthbertson
Tuesday 16 May 2023 09:51 BST
Comments
A new WhatsApp feature will roll out to more than 2 billion users from 15 May, 2023
A new WhatsApp feature will roll out to more than 2 billion users from 15 May, 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

WhatsApp has unveiled a major update that will allow users to hide intimate conversations in a secret folder.

The Chat Lock feature, which parent company Meta announced on Monday, means selected messages can only be accessed with a password or biometric identification, like a fingerprint or face scan.

Any incoming messages will also be hidden on the receiver’s phone or computer screen to prevent bystanders from seeing what they say or who they are from.

“We believe this feature will be great for people who share their phones from time to time with a family member, or in moments where someone else is holding your phone at the exact moment an extra-special chat arrives,” Meta wrote in a blog post announcing the WhatsApp update.

“Over the next few months, we’re going to be adding more options for Chat Lock, including locks for companion devices and creating a custom password for your chats so that you can use a unique password different from your phone’s.”

The new WhatsApp feature will be rolling out globally this week to more than 2 billion people who use the messaging app.

“New locked chats in WhatsApp make your conversations more private,” Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a post on Facebook.

“They’re hidden in a password protected folder and notifications won’t show sender or message content.”

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared a screenshot of what the new Locked Chats WhatsApp feature will look like
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared a screenshot of what the new Locked Chats WhatsApp feature will look like (Meta)

The latest update comes just days after widespread concerns emerged from WhatsApp users about a “creepy” feature relating to the app’s privacy settings.

Messages on people’s phones appeared to show that WhatsApp was listening to users while they were asleep, with notifications of the app activating the device’s microphone displayed on the privacy menu within Google’s Android operating system.

WhatsApp blamed the issue on a bug within Android, claiming it would never access a user’s microphone without their consent.

“Users have full control over their mic settings,” WhatsApp posted in response to a tweet about the issue.

“Once granted permission, WhatsApp only accesses the mic when a user is making a call or recording a voice note or video – and even then, these communications are protected by end-to-end encryption so WhatsApp cannot hear them.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in