- Confidentiality experts raise concerns concerning Meta’s decision to broadcast announcements in WhatsApp
- Monday, June 16, 2025, WhatsApp announced that the new advertising features should land in the updated tab
- In 2023 Meta denied the assertions that WhatsApp planned to add announcements in the platform in the platform
UPDATE: On June 18, 2025, after publication, we updated the copy to add additional comments and clarifications of WhatsApp.
After years of rumors, worries and denials, it finally happened – WhatsApp officially obtains advertisements.
On Monday, June 16, 2025, Meta announced that it deploys this new feature in the coming months. The great technology giant, however, says that the announcements are built “in the most oriented way to confidentiality”, ensuring that your messages, calls and personal groups will not be used to target these announcements.
Needless to say, confidentiality experts do not buy it and do not use worried users to search for alternatives.
“The introduction of announcements could point out a broader change in private messaging to monetized and supervised communication,” warns the NordVPN technology director, Marjé BRIEDIS. “Your messages may not remain as private as you think.”
For his part, WhatsApp guarantees that Techradar “If you only use WhatsApp to chat with friends and dear beings, there is no change in your experience.”
Whatsapp ads – What we know so far
So WhatsApp gets new announcements, but how does it work in practice?
Unlike rumors spent on potential advertisements in food – a plan that Meta denied in 2023 – WhatsApp advertisements are now set to be locked in its updated tab.
The updated tab, which, according to the company, has 1.5 billion daily users, includes both channels and statutes. The channels are a list of dedicated interest groups that you can join, while the latter reproduces the functionality of Instagram stories. The channels and statutes will obtain the public service.
A new Channels promoted The functionality will soon start to recommend new sponsored channels according to your interests. A new Ads in status The option will also allow companies to promote their services and products with targeted advertising among WhatsApp users.
WhatsApp promises that these new features have been built thinking about the confidentiality of users. Therefore, all personal messages, calls and statutes are defined to remain encrypted from start to finish, which means that even the supplier does not have access to this sensitive information.
“To display advertisements in the status or channels that may worry, we will use limited information such as your country or city, the language, the channels you follow and how you interact with the announcements you see. For people who have chosen to add WhatsApp to the account center, we will also use your preferences and your information from your Meta accounts”, indicates the official advertisers of Whatsapp.
What the privacy technology is said to be
Despite these insurances, the world of privacy is not exactly delighted by the prospect of providing eager data to a encrypted messaging application.
BRIEDIS DE NordVPN, today’s Best VPN recommendation of today, fears that this decision will lead to a dangerous change in private communications affairs.
He said: “When advertising enters a messaging application, it often marks the start of a deeper data collection. META says that your cats are private, but its commercial model is based on data-based surveillance. It is not only pop-ups; it is a question of protecting your confidentiality.”
NordVPN is certainly not the only one to take a strong position against the features of WhatsApp’s announcement.
Your messages may not remain as private as you think
Marijus Briedis, NordVPN
As Luza Jarovsky pointed out, the technology and confidentiality technology expert, personalized announcements are unlikely to be a feature that WhatsApp would like to or would like to see in a private application.
“Either Meta is desperate for more sources of income, or they don’t care. It is against the common sense to introduce personalized advertisements in a private messaging environment,” she wrote in a tweet, warning that “we will probably see hundreds of frightening examples”.
The digital group based in Austria Noyb then questioned the legality of such a plan in the EU – under the GDPR and the provision freely given by the DMA – and now threatens Meta by a legal complaint.
“Without giving their consent freely, linking data and showing personalized advertising is clearly illegal. Meta has already introduced an approach ‘Pay or Ok’ ‘on Instagram and Facebook, without the Irish Data Protection Authority or the European Commission taking effective measures against it.
Techradar has approached WhatsApp for clarification and a spokesperson assured that most WhatsApp users will see no difference.
“If you only use WhatsApp to discuss with friends and dear beings, there is no change in your experience. We have talked about our plans to create a business that has not been interrupting your personal cats for years and we think that the updated tab is the right place for these new features to work,” Techradar told a press release.
WhatsApp also says that the Noyb Declaration is inaccurate. “He ignores the prudent measures that we have taken to protect the confidentiality of people’s messages and put announcements on a separate tab. We are convinced that our plan is in accordance with legal requirements in the world, including the EU.”
Use the signal. We promise, no clutter of AI, no surveillance advertisements – whatever the rest of the industry. We direct we do not followJune 17, 2025
However, experts suggest that worried users should start to look for more private alternatives.
“If you are not comfortable being followed, you have options,” said Briedis. “Confidentiality should not be treated as a luxury. It should be the basic line.”
If you are looking to abandon WhatsApp, I recommend that you check the signal, session or threema.
The three messaging applications are delivered with default end -to -end encryption protection on all your messages and calls, without ads. Above all, unlike WhatsApp, these services also encrypt metadata, promising a really without track and private experience.
