The feature — already live on the Android beta version of the app — will help reduce the risk of profile photos being misused or distributed without permission.
Meta’s popular messaging platform WhatsApp is set to introduce a new privacy feature for iOS users that prevents iPhone users from taking screenshots of another user’s profile photo. WhatsApp already offered this feature on the Android platform earlier this year.
WhatsApp to disable screenshot of profile picture for iOS users: Key details
According to a new report by WABetaInfo, with the latest WhatsApp Beta for iOS version 24.10.10.70, WhatsApp users won’t be able to take screenshots of other users’ profile pictures. This beta version can also be installed via the TestFlight app. WABetInfo also shared a screenshot, which says “Screenshot capture blocked,” and “To protect everyone’s privacy on WhatsApp, this screenshot has been blocked.”
Further, the report suggests that this feature is designed to increase user privacy and reduce the risks associated with unauthorised sharing and distribution of personal profile photos. Currently, users of WhatsApp on the Android platform cannot take screenshots of profile photos.
The messaging app offers a black screen instead of capturing the photo, and informs the owner with a message that says, “Can’t take a screenshot due to app restrictions.” It seems WhatsApp is not going to have this privacy feature optional, which means you cannot manually change this option from Privacy settings.
Even though the feature does not entirely prevent misuse, this privacy feature is a crucial step towards misuse or unauthorised redistribution of profile photos from the app, which sometimes has sensitive information.
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