- WhatsApp denies that Meta AI can legally access your chats.
- The 'Advanced Privacy' feature does not change the encryption or basic privacy of your messages.
- Meta and experts insist: AI only accesses messages if you explicitly share them or mention it.
- The viral message circulating is false and is causing unjustified alarm among users.
In the last days, WhatsApp has seen concern resurface among its users following the expansion of a viral message which warns of alleged privacy risks attributed to the integration of AI goal in the application. According to this hoax, if the option is not activated “Advanced Privacy”, Meta's artificial intelligence could have broad and legal access to private messages, both in groups and individual chats, as well as to phone numbers and personal files stored on devices.
This notice, which has circulated widely in both groups and private conversations, urges users and administrators to enable advanced privacy settings as soon as possible. It even includes step-by-step instructions and recommends sharing the notice to protect themselves from imminent danger. However, the company itself, along with digital privacy experts, recently reiterated that such warnings have no technical or legal basis.
What is the reality behind the viral message?
The alarmist message that invites you to enable the call “Advanced Chat Privacy” argues that failing to do so would allow Meta's AI to automatically access all of the user's messages and content. However, WhatsApp employs end-to-end encryption to protect every message, call, and file sent over your network. This means that only the participants in a conversation can read its contents; third parties, not even Meta, are excluded from access unless the user voluntarily decides to share messages.
The function of “Advanced Privacy”, far from providing more protection against the alleged AI threat, actually serves to prevent chats from being exported, media files from being automatically downloaded to participants' devices, and messages from being used for certain AI functions, including sending directly to Meta AI.
Therefore, the viral message misrepresents and exaggerates the scope of the advanced privacy feature. Even if this setting is not activated, the confidentiality of conversations remains protected through encryption, ensuring that neither WhatsApp nor Meta can read or share the content without your consent.
How 'Advanced Privacy' works in detail
By activating the “Advanced Privacy” Within a group or individual conversation, this limits other users from exporting messages or files outside the chat, as well as preventing photos and videos from automatically downloading to the mobile gallery. prevents sharing messages directly with Meta AI or tag the AI in the conversation using @MetaAI.
However, the Fundamental privacy of messages does not depend on this option, as encryption is always applied by default, and only you and the person you're talking to can access the content. If you choose to interact with Meta AI, either through its dedicated chat or by mentioning it, the messages necessary for that support function are shared, but always on a voluntary basis by the user.
WhatsApp states that neither advanced privacy settings nor other additional adjustments are necessary to maintain standard confidentiality: the app's architecture, designed with end-to-end encryption, guarantees this protection by default.
Rumors and Truths: Can Meta Use Your Chats to Train Its AI?
One of the recent concerns is whether Meta can use the content of WhatsApp messages to train its artificial intelligence. The company has reiterated that The contents of private or group chats are not used to train AI models.Only public data or data explicitly shared, such as when you interact directly with Meta AI, can be used for this purpose, always with additional privacy protection mechanisms in place.
Additionally, WhatsApp has implemented technologies such as “Private Processing” that allow AI functions to be processed on secure servers, preventing unauthorized access to personal data by Meta or third parties.
For those who wish to take advantage of the extra control options, activate the “Advanced Privacy” it's simple:
- Open the chat (individual or group) where you want to activate the feature.
- Tap the contact or group name at the top.
- Scroll down until you find the “Advanced Chat Privacy” option.
- Activate it to apply the indicated restrictions.
Once enabled, Messages cannot be exported or forwarded From that chat, media files will not be automatically saved to the gallery, and Meta AI cannot be invoked within that conversation. It is worth noting that This option must be activated manually in each chat where you want to apply it, since there is no general configuration for the entire application.
Messages warning about AI access to conversations without enabling “Advanced Privacy” lack technical and legal basis. WhatsApp guarantees the Chat privacy through end-to-end encryption, making it impossible for Meta, or any other third party, to read the messages unless the user expressly shares them or interacts directly with Meta AI in the application.