WhatsApp revealed an advanced security software called "Strict Account Settings." In a blog post, WhatsApp stated that this feature offers enhanced protection against the rarest and most sophisticated cyberattacks, required by certain users such as journalists and public figures.
It was further noted that when the software is activated, some account settings will be locked and set to the most restrictive configurations. WhatsApp also added that the way the app functions for the user will be limited in several ways, such as blocking attachments and media from people who are not in the user’s contacts.
Additionally, it was reported that the strict account settings can be enabled by navigating to Settings > Privacy > Advanced.
WhatsApp stated that the new security feature will be rolled out gradually over the coming weeks and emphasized that this is one of the many ways it works to protect users from the most sophisticated cyber threats. With this new feature, WhatsApp joins a growing number of American tech companies allowing users to opt for stronger protection against hackers in exchange for a more limited access experience.
According to Reuters, Meta is the third-largest tech company offering enhanced security to its most vulnerable users. In 2022, Apple launched "Lockdown Mode," which it describes as "an extreme optional protection" aimed at "a very small number of people" who may be targets of advanced digital threats.
This mode, available for iPhone and Mac devices, disables most types of message attachments and link previews and includes restrictions on FaceTime calls and web browsing. Last year, Google’s parent company, Alphabet, began offering "Advanced Security Mode" to Android OS users. Similar to Lockdown Mode, Alphabet’s more secure option sacrifices certain functionality in exchange for enhanced security, including preventing the download of potentially harmful apps from users and opening new tabs outside its Google Play store.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the European Commission officially designated Meta’s WhatsApp platform as a "very large platform" under the European Union Digital Services Act (DSA), making it more responsible for handling illegal and harmful content. The Commission announced on January 15 that it was considering designating WhatsApp’s "Channels" feature as a very large platform; however, the messaging service itself is unaffected.
Channels had an average of 51.7 million monthly active users in the EU during the first six months of 2025, exceeding the 45 million user threshold set under the DSA. The DSA requires such large platforms to do more to address illegal and harmful content, which could become costly given the volume of data that must be scanned, and raises privacy concerns.
Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, Google’s YouTube and Threads, TikTok, and Microsoft’s LinkedIn are among the companies designated as very large online platforms under the DSA, subject to this requirement. "Following the designation, Meta, the provider of WhatsApp, has four months, until mid-May 2026, to ensure that WhatsApp meets the additional DSA obligations," the Commission stated.
A WhatsApp spokesperson said that as its channels continue to grow in the EU and elsewhere, "we remain committed to developing our safety and integrity measures in the region, ensuring they meet the relevant regulatory expectations and our ongoing responsibility to users."