• By Vikas Yadav
  • Sat, 11 May 2024 05:16 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

WhatsApp, a messaging application, is in the news for testing new features. Soon after Android, the company is now developing a feature to restrict users from taking screenshots from profile photos on iOS, according to WABetaInfo. The report noted the feature is under development in the iOS beta '24.10.10.70' build.

As spotted in the TestFlight build program, the 'Screenshot blocking' feature is not rolling out to beta testers. The company was testing a similar feature for Android users in February 2024. This new feature can help limit the unauthorised sharing and distribution of these images and increase privacy.

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Similar to the now-live beta feature on Android, the company could introduce the functionality to iOS users, as spotted in the TestFlight app. "To protect everyone's privacy on WhatsApp, this screen capture has been blocked," the text of "Screen capture blocked" said. This dialogue box will be released in an upcoming version for iPhones to notify users that the capture was blocked to respect the privacy of WhatsApp accounts.

The new option will help limit the sharing of a person's profile photo via the medium of in-app screengrabs. Plus, it can also restrict sharing of profile photos without the consent of the concerned user. However, other mediums, such as recording via another device's camera or screen recorder may still be tough to limit for WhatsApp.

However, the presence of the feature will still help limit the easy sharing of WhatsApp DPs across contacts on WhatsApp or via other mediums. This will limit the sharing of personal identifiers of a contact or misuse of someone's profile picture to an extent. This feature testing comes amid the rise of AI-generated deepfake images on the internet and its evolving risks.

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While the feature may not offer swift protection against threats, the new step could be an attempt to block access to easy image capture and reinforce the platform's privacy commitments. For context, the company reportedly blocked the option to let users save display pictures of an account five years ago.