WhatsApp beta includes feature that prevents screenshots from being taken

A new beta version of WhatsApp for Android and iOS includes a security feature that prevents screenshots from taking ‘View Once’ images. Screen capture is also disabled with this feature.

According to WABetaInfo it is still possible to take screenshots with regular images and in chat conversations. In addition, if the function kicks in and blocks a screenshot, the sender of the image in question will not be notified.

The feature is currently baked into beta 22.21.0.71 of the iOS version of WhatsApp. Android users who have access to the test version of the WhatsApp app must have version 2.33.33.3. The function is not active for all users.

In early August, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that WhatsApp would get some new privacy features. This would make it possible to hide the ‘online now’ status, silently leave group conversations and thus block screenshots with View Once images. A number of beta testers have already noticed the feature to hide their ‘online status’.

Screenshot beta version WhatsApp