WhatsApp is planning on introducing a new feature that will allow users to have photos or videos vanish after they are seen. After the recipient opens the image or video for the first time, “view once” deletes it, without saving it to the phone.
WhatsApp said that the feature was aimed at “giving users even more control over their privacy”. WhatsApp is planning on rolling the feature out to “everyone starting this week”.
Users will know that a message is “view once” because the preview will be hidden a large “1” icon will be displayed instead. However, similar to vanishing messages on other apps like Snapchat, users can take a screenshot or screen recording of the message when it is first opened.
The feature also comes with limitations, such as:
- The photos will not be saved in a phone’s gallery app
- The media cannot be forwarded, saved, shared, or starred
- It will expire if not opened within two weeks
Child protection advocates have expressed concern over the possibility that this new feature could help predators cover up evidence of child sexual abuse.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) is already at odds with WhatsApp’s parent company, Facebook, over the use of encrypted messaging which means police can’t see the messages “in transit”. If the messages auto-delete than devices seized in raids would no longer contain evidence either
“This view once feature could put children at even greater risk by giving offenders another tool to avoid detection and erase evidence, when efforts to combat child sexual abuse are already hindered by end-to-end encryption,” said Alison Trew, the charity’s senior online safety officer.
Sources: BBC
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