With a new AI image editing function that will soon be integrated into WhatsApp, the messenger service wants to open up completely new possibilities – but the risk of manipulation is also increasing. Whatsapp is working to better protect users from deepfakes and fake news in the future Content review tools. These are intended to help check the authenticity of images and links without endangering privacy.
New features for image editing and link research
Whatsapp plans to soon give users the opportunity to edit images directly in the chat using AI. While this feature seems practical for everyday purposes, it could also have potential for misuse, such as spreading manipulated content. To counteract this risk, Whatsapp is working on two new tools to check whether the content is “real”, according to the information platform “WA-Betainfo”.
The already planned link research function will be expanded in the future. This makes it easier to load links sent via WhatsApp into Google search to check the authenticity of shared messages. This function is already visible in beta version 2.24.20.28 for Android smartphones from the end of September.
Image search with one click
What is new is the ability to also use this integrated search function for photos. In the future, users who receive a photo directly or have it forwarded will be able to initiate an image search in Google with one click.
Google then searches the Internet for similar images or the original version. This is intended to make it easier to identify misleading, out of context, altered or fake images.
Whatsapp: No more screenshots
Whatsapp: Protection against manipulation by deepfakes
The ability to compare images with other images available online via Google search allows WhatsApp users to better identify whether a photo has been manipulated or is a so-called deepfake. This type of image analysis could represent an important step in the fight against the flood of fake news and misleading content.
Protecting privacy is important. WhatsApp emphasizes that although the images are shared with the Google search engine, they are not stored or processed by the messenger app itself. The same goes for the advanced link research feature. However, it is still unclear when these new features will be available to all users.
WhatsApp is planning its own AI image generator
