New WhatsApp Feature Lets Users Check Image Authenticity with Google Reverse Search

Meta is reportedly in the process of developing a groundbreaking feature for WhatsApp that will empower users to directly conduct web searches on images shared in their chats. As revealed by WABetaInfo, this upcoming feature is intended to help users verify the authenticity of photos received, providing a way to check for possible manipulation or context alteration. Currently, this new tool is being tested on the latest WhatsApp beta version for Android and is accessible to a selected group of users for early trials.

Known as “Search on Web,” the feature allows users to send an image directly to Google for a reverse image search, providing a function similar to Google’s reverse image search but with the added convenience of being built into WhatsApp itself. This integration removes the need to download and re-upload an image to a separate app or browser, streamlining the verification process. By enabling quick and direct access to image searches, WhatsApp hopes to enhance transparency within conversations, helping users to gather more background information on the images they receive. This quick verification allows users to determine if an image has been edited or is possibly being shared out of its original context.

When this feature is activated, WhatsApp assures users that images sent to Google for search remain private. The platform confirms that these images are not shared with Meta and are only used within the context of the web search function, providing added privacy for those who wish to validate shared images without exposing data.

As of now, this feature is limited to the WhatsApp beta on Android, version 2.24.23.13, and can be accessed by select beta testers through the Google Play Store. In the coming weeks, WhatsApp reportedly plans a broader rollout, though there is currently no information on when this feature may be introduced to iOS devices.