WhatsApp is testing reverse image search on Android beta to curb the spread of misinformation

WhatsApp is testing a new feature that allows users to quickly search images online, making it easier to verify the authenticity of photos shared in chats. This new reverse image search feature, currently only available to beta testers of WhatsApp on Android, could be a valuable tool for identifying manipulated or misleading images shared on the platform.

With the latest WhatsApp beta update for Android (version 2.24.23.13), beta testers can open any image received in a chat and access the Search the Web option through the three-dot menu of the media viewer. Once confirmed, WhatsApp uses Google’s reverse image search feature to find identical or similar images online. This allows users to check whether the photo has appeared elsewhere online or whether it has been altered, a common tactic in disinformation campaigns.

While some beta users may still not see this option as it appears to be part of the server-side deployment, WhatsApp’s new tool could soon make image verification much easier for all users. By providing a couple of quick taps to search for image sources, the feature aims to reduce the spread of false or misleading images that can quickly spread on social media.

While the image search process is based on Google’s reverse image search, WhatsApp has clarified that user privacy is maintained. The platform does not store or access the images that users select for search; instead, they are sent directly from the app to Google for processing, with no intermediate access from WhatsApp or its parent company Meta.

Currently, only Android beta users can explore this feature, but WhatsApp plans to roll it out to all users worldwide.