WhatsApp Tests Per-Chat Biometric Lock Option

WhatsApp Tests Per-Chat Biometric Lock Option

Catching up to Telegram and Signal.

Per WABetaInfo – version 2.23.8.2 of WhatsApp Beta has revealed that traces of references to biometric lock feature is pointing to chat protection on a per-chat level, meaning users can lock some group chats while leaving others readily accessible. Currently, biometric locks (including fingerprint and face recognition) only works on the app-level, meaning everything will be immediately accessible once unlocked.

The option, called ‘Chat Lock’, will hide all messages and locks it behind fingerprints or passcode on specific chatrooms, which can be accessed through tapping the three-dot menu in the chat. This will give the user the toggle to “lock this chat with fingerprint”, which will keep the chat out from prying eyes and anyone attempting to open it will be prompted to scan fingerprints (if the authentication fails, the app will ask the user to clear the chat before accessing.)

According to the report, this feature is in extremely early phase of testing, so there’s no guarantees that this feature will make it out to the release channel. But given that WhatsApp’s competitors already have the feature built right in, it’s probably a matter of time before this feature makes its way into official update.

Source: 9to5Google

Pokdepinion: Took them quite a while – hope it’s making its way to the official release soon.