Overview
- A recycled WhatsApp chain letter that circulated again between June 8 and June 10 falsely warns that Meta AI will automatically read all chats and urges admins to enable “Extended Chat Privacy.”
- WhatsApp and multiple fact‑checks confirm messages remain end‑to‑end encrypted and Meta AI only processes messages users explicitly submit, for example by mentioning @Meta AI or sharing content with the bot.
- The in‑app “Extended Chat Privacy” setting exists and limits chat export, automatic media saving, and in‑chat use of Meta AI for that chat but it does not block a non‑existent global AI read‑access.
- Journalists, consumer groups and fact‑checkers advise deleting or ignoring the hoax, enabling extended privacy for sensitive group contexts if desired, and verifying claims before forwarding.
- Reporters warn the hoax distracts from real privacy risks: WhatsApp collects unencrypted metadata such as phone numbers, IPs, timestamps and contact lists, an issue under active EU regulatory scrutiny.