WhatsApp might soon prevent users from taking screenshots of profile pictures

In 2019, WhatsApp disabled the ability to download display pictures of people on the platform. Now, the platform aims to introduce a feature that prevents users from taking screenshots of other users' profile pictures.

• By: Tech Desk
• New Delhi | Updated: February 21, 2024 10:40 AM IST

2 min read

In 2019, WhatsApp disabled a functionality that allowed users to download profile picture of others. (Image Source: Unsplash)

WhatsApp is testing a new functionality that prevents users from taking a screenshot of other users’ profile pictures, also called display pictures. The instant messaging platform’s new feature is aimed at enhancing user privacy by preventing the downloading and sharing of personal photos without the user’s consent.

As spotted by WABetaInfo, the latest WhatsApp beta for Android, which is available on the Google Play Store, when users try to take a screenshot of another person’s profile picture, they will get a notification saying ‘Can’t take a screenshot due to app restrictions’ as can be seen in the image below.

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A future version of WhatsApp will prevent you from taking a screenshot of other people’s profile picture. (Image Source: WABetaInfo)

This is similar to Snapchat and payment apps like Paytm and Google Pay, which also prevent users from taking screenshots of the app in certain scenarios. However, you will still be able to take a photo of another person’s profile picture using a secondary device like a phone or camera.

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By limiting the ability to take screenshots of profile pictures, WhatsApp seems to want to reduce the risk of impersonation and harassment. The screenshot block feature seems to be available to a handful of beta testers for now, but it looks like the functionality will be rolled out to everyone in the coming weeks.

The move follows in the footsteps of WhatsApp’s decision to prevent users from downloading profile pictures of other users in 2019. The Meta-owned instant messaging app is also working on a dedicated fact-checking chatbot that will help curb the problem of deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation.