WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that allows users to have photos or videos vanish after they are seen.
After the recipient opens the image for the first time, “view once” deletes it, without saving it to a phone.
WhatsApp said the feature was aimed at “giving users even more control over their privacy”.
However, the government is facing a legal challenge over the use of “self-destructing messages” on encrypted-messaging apps.
Transparency campaigners say it eliminates accountability and the public record.
WhatsApp has focused its marketing of the new feature on regular consumers, saying it could be used for throwaway yet personal photos – when trying on clothes in a shop and asking a partner how they looked, for example, or sending someone a password.
Camera roll
“Not everything we share needs to become a permanent digital record,” it said.
“On many phones, simply taking a photo means it will take up space in your camera roll forever.”
And it was rolling out the feature to “everyone starting this week”.
Users will know a message is “view once” because the preview will be hidden and a large “1” icon displayed instead.
Much like vanishing messages on other apps such as Snapchat, however, it is possible for a user to take a screenshot or screen recording of the message when it is first opened – or to film one screen with another camera.
The feature also comes with limitations:
- 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
WhatsApp introduced a disappearing-messages function in November.
It erases text messages for both the sender and recipient after seven days – and is one of the areas of concern for the legal challenge to the government.
UK law says information relating to “substantive discussions or decisions” need to be kept on record for the historical archive.
Several members of government are known to use WhatsApp and similar app Signal frequently, leading one campaigning law firm to accuse political leaders of “government by text”.
The Cabinet Office has said “appropriate arrangements” are already in place to ensure official communications are retained in line with the rules.
www.bbc.co.uk
