WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.12.10: what's new?

WhatsApp has released a new Android update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.25.12.10.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to indicate that status updates are end-to-end encrypted, and it's available to some beta testers!

In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.6.11 update, we announced that a feature to indicate when chats are end-to-end encrypted was available. This feature introduced a new caption displayed under the contact or group name within your conversations, serving as a clear visual indicator that the chat is protected by end-to-end encryption using the Signal protocol. The caption appears briefly before disappearing to allow the 'last seen' information to reappear, ensuring a balance between security awareness and interface clarity. It seems that WhatsApp aims to further clarify that not only messages and calls, but also other types of communication are protected by end-to-end encryption. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.12.10 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to indicate that status updates are end-to-end encrypted!

As you can see from the attached screenshot, some beta testers can explore a new feature that displays a security label when viewing a status update. This label appears at the top of the screen, right below the contact name, and clearly highlights that the status update is end-to-end encrypted. With this visual indicator, WhatsApp aims to increase user awareness about the protection of their content. It reinforces the idea that not only private and group messages, but also status updates and calls, benefit from the same high level of security provided by the Signal protocol. The consistent appearance of this encryption label helps reinforce trust in the platform’s privacy standards.

This new visual indicator may also play an important role in addressing user concerns or lingering misconceptions about which types of content are protected on WhatsApp. By prominently displaying this label, WhatsApp demonstrates a commitment to transparency and takes a proactive approach in clearly communicating its end-to-end encryption practices to users. It reinforces the message that security is not limited to just personal and group chats, but extends equally to status updates and other forms of communication. This visual cue may be considered as an educational tool, helping users understand that their status updates are safeguarded by the same advanced privacy measures used to protect their voice and video calls, as well as their messages.

It's important to clarify that the absence of this visual indicator in earlier versions of the app does not imply that status updates were unprotected. Status updates have been secured with end-to-end encryption from the very first day the feature was launched, ensuring that user privacy has always been a priority. This level of protection guarantees that no one, not even WhatsApp, its parent company Meta, or any third parties, can read, intercept, or access the content shared in status updates. The recent addition of a visible encryption label simply makes this invisible layer of security more transparent to users.

A feature to indicate that status updates are end-to-end encrypted is available to some beta testers who install the latest updates of WhatsApp beta for Android from the Google Play Store, and it is rolling out to even more people over the coming weeks.

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