- Privacy experts give concern about Meta’s decision to bring advertisements to WhatsApp
- On Monday, June 16, 2025, WhatsApp announced that new advertisement functions have been established to land on the Update tab
- In 2023, Meta claims denied that WhatsApp was planning to add ads in feed on the platform
Update: On June 18, 2025, after publication, we updated the copy to add extra comments and clarifications from WhatsApp.
After years of rumors, worries and denials, it finally happened – WhatsApp will officially receive advertisements.
On Monday June 16, 2025, Meta announced That it will roll out this new position in the coming months. However, the Big Tech Giant claims that advertisements are being built “in the most privacy-oriented way that is possible” so that your personal messages, calls and groups are not used to focus these advertisements on you.
Needless to say that privacy experts do not buy it and rely on concerned users to look for alternatives.
“The introduction of advertisements can indicate a broader shift from private messages to monetized, controlled communication,” warns Chief Technology Officer at NordVPNMarihus Briedis. “Your messages may not remain as private as you think.”
On the side, WhatsApp ensures that TechRadar ensures that “if you only use WhatsApp to chat with friends and loved ones, there is no change in your experience at all.”
WhatsApp advertisements – What we know so far
So, so, WhatsApp gets new advertisementsBut how does this work in practice?
Unlike rumors from the past about potential advertisements in feed-a plan that Meta refused in 2023 – WhatsApp advertisements are now set to be locked on the Update tab.
The Updates tab, the company said it has 1.5 billion daily users, includes both channels and statuses. Channels are a list of special interest groups that you can participate in, while the latter replicates the Story Function of Instagram. Both channels and statuses get the AD function.
A new Promoted channels The function will soon be recommended new sponsored channels based on your interests. A new Advertisements in status Option also enables companies to promote their services and products with targeted advertisements among WhatsApp users.
WhatsApp promises that these new functions have been built with the privacy of users in mind. That is why all personal messages, calls and statuses have been set to remain end-to-end coded, which means that even the provider does not have access to this sensitive information.
“To show advertisements in status or channels that you might care, we use limited information such as your country or city, language, the channels that you follow and how you deal with the advertisements you see. For people who have chosen to add WhatsApp to the Accounts Center, we will also use your advertising choices and information from your meta -accounts,” Reads the official announcement of WhatsAppAdding the company will “never sell or share your telephone number to advertisers.”
What the privacy technical industry says
Despite these reassurance, the privacy world is not really happy with the prospect of bringing data-hungry advertisements to a coded Message app.
Briedis van Nordvpn, the current tech radar’s Best VPN Recommendation fears that this step can lead to a dangerous shift in the company of private communication.
He said: “When advertising enters a Message app, it often marks the start of deeper data collection. Meta says that your chats are private, but the business model depends on data-driven monitoring. This is not only about pop-ups; it is about protecting your privacy.”
NordVPN is certainly not the only one who takes on a strong attitude against the advertisement functions of WhatsApp.
Your messages may not remain as private as you think
Marihus Briedis, NordVPN
As AI, Tech and Privacy Expert Luiza Jarovsky have noticed, it is unlikely that personalized advertisements would like WhatsApp users in a private app.
“Either Meta is desperately looking for more sources of income, or they just don’t care. It is against common sense to introduce personalized advertisements into a private reporting environment,” ” wrote in a tweetWarning that “we will probably see hundreds of scary examples.”
The digital group based in Austria NYB then questioned the legitimateness From such a plan in the EU – under the GDPR and DMAs released for consent – and now threatens Meta a legal complaint.
“Without freely permission, linking data and showing personalized advertisements, it is clearly illegal. Meta has already introduced an ‘Pay or okay approach On Instagram and Facebook, without the Irish Data Protection Authority or the EU committee that takes effective action against it. We suspect that Meta will do the same with WhatsApp, “said Noyb’s chairman and lawyer, Max screen.
TechRadar approached WhatsApp for clarification and a spokesperson ensured that most WhatsApp users will see no difference.
“If you only use WhatsApp to chat with friends and loved ones, there is no change in your experience at all. We have talked about our plans to build a company that has not interrupted your personal chats for years and we believe that the tab updates is the right place for these new functions to work,” Whatsapp Techradar said in a statement.
WhatsApp also claims that the statement of NOYB is inaccurate. “It ignores the careful steps that we have taken to protect the privacy of people’s privacy and to place advertisements on a separate tab. We are convinced that our plan is in accordance with legal requirements around the world, including the EU.”
Use signal. We promise, no AI -Rommel, no supervisory advertisements – whatever the rest of the industry does. We do not lead us follow Pic.twitter.com/11NAKMBLLWJune 17, 2025
Nevertheless, experts suggest that concerned users should look for more private alternatives.
“If you don’t feel comfortable when keeping up, you have options,” said Briedis. “Privacy may not be treated as a luxury. It should be the basic line.”
If you want to throw away WhatsApp, I recommend that you also look at it Signal” Sessionor Theme.
All three Message apps are supplied with standard end-to-end coding protection about all your messages and calls, without advertisements. In contrast to WhatsApp, these services are also crucial Coderts MetadataPromises a real track-free and private experience.
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