WhatsApp is developing a feature that would allow users to quickly look up an image they got from another user with a couple of taps. The messaging platform has released a new feature to beta testers that includes a reverse image lookup capability for images in chats, which could help users identify manipulated media. The feature is currently only available to Android beta testers, but it is expected to be rolled out to all users in the future.
With the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.23.13 (via feature tracker WABetaInfo), beta testers will have access to a new feature in the media viewer that appears when a photo is opened within a chat. The new feature performs a reverse image search after requesting user approval to upload the image.
To test the feature, users must first install the newest WhatsApp beta for Android, then begin a chat and select an image. They can access the three-dot menu at the top of the screen, then select Search on web > Search.
However, the feature appears to be enabled via a server-side update, as LoudFact staff were unable to test it even after updating to the most recent beta version.
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Unlike recent cosmetic updates to WhatsApp for Android, the new image lookup feature is an effective tool for rapidly determining the origin of an image. With a few taps, users can identify identical or similar images shared online, as well as check to see whether they have received images that have been edited or altered – tactics users to spread misinformation.