WhatsApp may soon get reverse image search feature: What it can do for you

It is no mystery that one of the most notorious sources for the spread of deepfakes and general misinformation, for years, has been WhatsApp. Many of us tend to not give a second thought or a glance to the many (potentially misleading) forwarded images we receive from our family groups while sipping our morning coffee.

However, in a bid to combat precisely that, WhatsApp is introducing a new reverse image search feature that allows users to verify the authenticity of said images, in a quick and easy manner. Read on.

Reverse image search on WhatsApp: What you need to know

As per a WABetaInfo report, WhatsApp Beta for Android v 2.24.23.13 has received a new feature that allows one to search for images they receive on the app, on the web.

ALSO READ: How to reverse image search on a mobile device or computer

While the feature isn’t a first in itself (Remember, Google Search and Google Lens have had the feature for years now), it should allow one to verify if an image is fake or has been manipulated in any manner, by comparing it with originals on the internet. Moreover, several images are also taken out of context and misrepresented, which can be prevented too.

The feature is located in the overflow menu when one opens an image on the app. By tapping on the three-dot menu in the top right corner, and then on the ‘Search on the web’ option, one can initiate a reverse image search. The report also adds that while the image is uploaded to Google for processing, WhatsApp’s servers themselves do not process the image, ensuring your safety and privacy.

When will the reverse image search feature be rolled out?

Bear in mind that the new feature is still in Beta, and currently available only to testers on Android smartphones. Unfortunately, the Meta-owned instant messaging platform makes no mention of when it will be rolled out to the app’s broader user base. Moreover, whether it will be made available to WhatsApp for iOS as well as desktop users remains unknown as of now.