Meta AI has no ability to access or gain entry to WhatsApp group conversations, individual chats, or user contact details; the circulating claim is false.
WhatsApp, the popular messaging app, has introduced two new features: Meta AI and Advanced Chat Privacy. Here's what you need to know about these features and how they affect your privacy.
Meta AI, an optional service launched in April 2025, allows users to interact with Meta AI directly or within group chats. You can ask questions, get helpful suggestions, explore shared interests, create AI-generated images, and forward messages for more information. However, it's important to note that the availability of Meta AI features varies by region and depends on your location and registration details. As of mid-2025, Meta AI is confirmed to be available in at least 43 countries, but specific countries or regions are not fully listed publicly, and some features are limited to selected countries and languages only.
Contrary to some viral claims, Meta AI cannot access WhatsApp groups, individual chats, or contact details. It only accesses messages explicitly shared with it or those mentioning @Meta AI. Meta can only access these messages to provide relevant and personalized responses.
The Advanced Chat Privacy feature, on the other hand, is designed to offer extra privacy by limiting how content can be taken outside of WhatsApp. When enabled, it prevents others from exporting chats, auto-downloading media to their devices, and using messages with AI features. However, it does not control Meta AI's access to chats or contacts.
It's worth mentioning that all personal and group messages remain protected with end-to-end encryption on WhatsApp, ensuring your conversations remain private.
Responses from Meta AI on WhatsApp are generated based on the prompts and messages users send. Messages from Meta AI are also generated using artificial intelligence based on the prompts and messages users send directly to it.
Lastly, it's essential to be aware that WhatsApp Web data can potentially be scraped when it is opened if a user has a malicious or overly permissive browser extension installed. This risk is not related to the Meta AI feature or the Advanced Chat Privacy feature.
In conclusion, Meta AI and Advanced Chat Privacy are new features on WhatsApp designed to enhance your messaging experience while maintaining your privacy. It's crucial to understand how these features work and to use them responsibly.
