As of: April 4, 2024, 11:42 a.m
By: Lennart Schwenck
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WhatsApp is introducing a new feature: screenshots for profile pictures will be blocked. But there are also limitations.
Kassel – WhatsApp has repeatedly taken various measures in recent years to increase the security of its platform and offer users a secure chat experience. A newly introduced feature now blocks screenshots for profile pictures to further strengthen end-user privacy.
In February 2024, WhatsApp was discovered to be working on blocking screenshots for profile pictures. Although Meta has not yet officially announced the launch of the feature, it is apparently being tested widely. Users report that they can no longer take screenshots of profile pictures. Instead, WhatsApp displays an error message saying that a screenshot cannot be taken due to app restrictions.
WhatsApp is strengthening its data protection: Soon it will no longer be possible to take a screenshot of profile pictures © Imago Images
Restrictions and rollout: Protection against fraudsters and stalkers
Screenshot blocking for profile pictures appears to be enabled by default and is rolled out server-side, according to
androidpolice.com
. So far there is no way to deactivate the function. The rollout will take place gradually, so not all instant messenger users will be affected by the innovation.
There is one big exception: It should still be possible to screenshot profile pictures in group chats. It is not known whether the meta company will also close this data protection gap. It is also questionable whether the restriction can also be implemented when using WhatsApp Web on a laptop or desktop PC.
Focus on protection against identity theft
For maximum privacy, users can hide their profile picture on WhatsApp from everyone else by navigating to Settings > Privacy > Profile Photo in the menu and ticking the correct box.
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The innovation primarily serves to counteract unwanted misuse of data in the form of profile photo theft. An example is so-called morphing, which is used by criminals to generate artificial passport photos. But deepfakes also represent a major problem when it comes to identity protection in the digital age. With AI tools, it has become possible to create artificially generated deepfakes. A recent prominent victim, for example, was the American singer Taylor Swift. (
ls
)