Meta-owned messaging giant WhatsApp has launched a new feature that allows users to put a conversation in a folder that can only be accessed with their device’s password or biometrics like a fingerprint.

WhatsApp chat blocking feature allows users to protect most confidential conversations behind another layer of security. The company launches Chat Lock on WhatsApp worldwide.

“Suspending a chat removes that thread from your inbox and puts it in its own folder, which can only be accessed with your device’s password or biometrics like a fingerprint. In addition, the content of this chat will automatically be hidden in notifications as well,” he said in a statement from the messaging app.

“New locked chats in WhatsApp make your conversations more private. They’re hidden in a password-protected folder, and notifications don’t show the sender or message content,” said Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Meta.

“We think this feature will be great for people who share their phone with a family member from time to time, or in those moments when someone else has your phone in their hands at the precise moment that a very special chat arrives says the tech giant.

“You can block a chat by tapping on the name of an individual conversation or a group and selecting the block option. To view these chats, slowly swipe down your inbox and enter your password or biometrics,” it adds.

WhatsApp says it will add more chat lock options in the coming months, including locks on companion devices and creating a custom password for your chats so users can use a unique password different from their phone’s.

Government investigates use of telephone microphones in the background

Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Rajeev Chandrasekhar, last week called news giant WhatsApp’s alleged use of phone microphones in the background an unacceptable breach and an invasion of privacy.

The Union minister tweeted about the issue after Twitter engineer Foad Dabiri accused WhatsApp of using the microphone in the background while he slept.

However, WhatsApp dismissed the claim, saying it was a bug on Android that misattributed information in its privacy dashboard. “In the last 24 hours we have been in contact with a Twitter engineer who posted an issue with his Pixel phone and WhatsApp. We believe this is a bug on Android that is misattributing information in the privacy dashboard and have asked Google to investigate and remedy it,” the company said.

WhatsApp claimed that users have full control over their microphone settings. “Once permission is granted, WhatsApp will only access the microphone when a user makes a call or records a voice memo or video – and even then, those communications are protected by end-to-end encryption, so WhatsApp doesn’t use them.” can hear,” the messaging giant called it.