WhatsApp is introducing a new feature aimed at enhancing user privacy by curbing unwanted calls on its messaging platform. The feature allows users to enable a setting that silences calls from spam and nuisance numbers, specifically those that are not saved in the user’s contact list. This initiative seeks to minimize interruptions from unknown callers while still ensuring that users are aware of any incoming calls.
On Tuesday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg confirmed the rollout of this feature, indicating that it had transitioned from development to being available to all users. Reports from Gadgets 360 have verified that the setting is now accessible on the most recent stable versions of WhatsApp for both Android and iOS devices.
With the new option activated, users will not hear their phone ring when receiving calls from unknown contacts. However, the app will continue to display these calls in the notification area as well as within the app itself, allowing users to review any missed calls from unidentified numbers without the disruption of a ringing phone.
To enable this feature on Android devices, users can navigate to the three-dot menu, select Settings, followed by Privacy, and then Calls to toggle the Silence unknown callers function. iPhone users can access this setting by clicking on the gear icon to enter the settings menu, then going to Privacy, selecting Calls, and activating the Silence Unknown Callers option.
This feature emerges following reports from numerous users across India and beyond, who have expressed concerns about an uptick in spam calls from unknown international numbers. Complaints surfaced on platforms like Twitter, highlighting calls from regions such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Kenya, and Ethiopia. This prompted Indian Minister of State for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar to announce that a notice would be sent to WhatsApp regarding these issues.
In response to user complaints, WhatsApp had previously stated its commitment to enhancing its spam detection systems, which utilize artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to cut down scam and spam calls by approximately 50 percent. The introduction of this new feature is expected to further ease the inconvenience caused by such unwanted calls on the platform.
