WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.18.7: what's new?

WhatsApp is rolling out a new update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.24.18.7.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is working on new indicators to make it clearer when a business uses services provided by Meta, and it will be available in a future update!

In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.21.15 update, we announced that WhatsApp was working on a feature to identify businesses that share some interactions with Meta. This feature aims to enhance transparency by informing users when certain business chats may share limited information with Meta regarding specific interactions, such as opening WhatsApp through an ad on Facebook or Instagram. It appears that WhatsApp is now committed to improving this feature by further clarifying when Meta might process these interactions. Thanks to the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.18.7 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is working on a feature to further educate users about how they support businesses and the limits of their collaboration with Meta through new indicators.

As you can see from the attached screenshot, WhatsApp is working on two new indicators to mark when Meta receives some information regarding interactions with certain businesses, scheduled for release in a future update of the app. The new indicators are designed to make it even clearer to users when and how their interactions with businesses on WhatsApp might involve Meta, and they will be promptly visible in the conversation thread once a business starts using certain services from Meta.

Specifically, it appears that users will see different indicators based on the type of interaction. A single arrow (>) will indicate that Meta might receive limited information such as the number of interactions with a certain business. This can happen when users click on an ad on Facebook or Instagram that leads them to start a WhatsApp conversation, or when they click on a link provided by a business. Previously, such interactions were marked with two arrows (>>), but this has now been changed to a single arrow for better clarity.

In cases where users see two arrows (>>), it means that Meta might actively receive messages shared with that specific business chat to improve the quality of their AI services. This typically occurs when a business uses AI from Meta to assist their customers with tailored answers. For example, businesses might choose to use Meta AI to answer customer queries or provide information about products and services directly through WhatsApp. By making this distinction clear, WhatsApp aims to ensure users are fully aware of when and how their interactions with certain businesses involve Meta.

Users will see new indicators, like arrows and message events, within these business conversations to signal when such data sharing occurs. To further highlight this implementation and make this process more transparent, WhatsApp will also show these indicators within the chat info screen, making it easier for users to review the data-sharing practices of each business they interact with on WhatsApp. This addition to the chat info screen will provide a more transparent and accessible way for users to understand the specifics of their interactions and any potential involvement of Meta. It is important to note that this does not impact the end-to-end encryption of other user messages and calls, as WhatsApp remains committed to maintaining the privacy and security of other personal and group conversations that do not involve businesses using AI from Meta.

It is worth noting that not all businesses on WhatsApp will display the new indicators mentioned, since they use WhatsApp in different ways. Some businesses might choose to use services from Meta, such as running ads on Facebook or Instagram that link to WhatsApp, or integrating AI services to manage customer interactions and queries. These businesses will show the indicators, alerting users to the potential sharing of certain information with Meta. However, other businesses may only use the basic WhatsApp Business app without relying on additional Meta services or cloud provider solutions. In such cases, these businesses will not display the indicators, as no data is being shared with Meta beyond the necessary communication to operate on WhatsApp.

Regardless of the type of business, users are always in control of their interactions. If a user does not agree with the data-sharing practices indicated, they can choose not to engage in conversation with the business when they see one of these indicators. Users have the option to block or report businesses at any time, ensuring they always remain in full control of their interactions.

A feature to make it clearer when a business uses services provided by Meta is under development and it will be available in a future update. We will keep you updated with an additional article as soon as we have more details to share about this feature.

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