Upcoming WhatsApp feature will save you from surprise video calls and sextortion scams: Here’s how | Technology News
WhatsApp is one of the best instant messaging apps for keeping in touch with your friends and family, but it does have its fair share of issues. Like, when you get a video call on WhatsApp, the app automatically opens your front camera, meaning there is no way to pick up the call without the camera being on.
This may not be a big of a deal for many, but sometimes you might want to pick up the call without the camera being on. As it turns out, WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature that lets you do just that. First spotted by Android Authority on the latest WhatsApp beta for Android, users may soon see a new “Turn off your video” button when getting a video call. As one would expect, tapping on it will disable the camera and pick up the call in voice only mode.
WhatsApp users will soon have the option to pick up video calls without turning on the camera. (Image Source: Android Authority)
Moreover, it looks like WhatsApp has also included a “Accept without video” button when you turn off the camera, making it clear to users that they can pick up the call without being seen. While the new feature may not be useful to everyone, it can come in handy to fight sextortion scams.
To give you a quick recap, scammers in India have been exploiting WhatsApp’s video call feature by initiating calls with explicit content, taking a screenshot of the victims face and blackmailing and threatening them unless they pay a ransom amount. At the moment, it is still unclear if and when the new feature will be available, but given its utility, Meta is expected to roll it out in the coming months.
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