Privacy Check: WhatsApp Voice Messages and Voice Calls

On this website we have been publishing ideas and opinions on WhatsApp. In this post, we'll share a "Privacy check" of WhatsApp on two areas— Voice Messages and Voice Calls. WhatsApp is definitely one of the most popular and widely used instant messaging services. Our writings attempt to highlight and discuss areas, with suggestions and ideas, that could enhance the platform's user experience  and service for its billions of users.

Voice Message on WhatsApp

WhatsApp Voice Message is an option that allows users to send messages in form of audio recordings instead of typing text. To use the voice message option a user can simply tap and hold the microphone icon within a chat panel to record a voice message.

While this voice message offers convenience to the sender, on WhatsApp receivers lack the ability to completely disable the feature. Users may wish to disable voice messages for various reasons such as—

• Text messages offer control over reading speed and users can selectively skip portions, unlike voice messages which dictate the listening pace.
• Voice messages are more like one-way communication and interactive nature of instant messaging, and social media communication.
• Voice messages do not have features like quote replies and future searchability.

Etc,

Voice message is a core feature on WhatsApp, and it lacks a user (receiver's) option to disable reception. Currently, the only workaround appears to be individually blocking contacts, which is not really feasible.

Voice Calls on WhatsApp

WhatsApp voice calls, allow users to communicate via the internet within the app. This is a convenient option, however here also we currently lack an option to restrict incoming calls. WhatsApp help documentation state— "Anyone who has your phone number can call you on WhatsApp. An unknown caller might be someone you haven't contacted before or saved as a contact." There is not an option to decide who can call on WhatsApp. One can silent "unknown callers" (non–contacts), but advanced controls are missing.

Privacy Options are Needed!

WhatsApp does not have advanced options
to restrict or control incoming voice messages
and voice calls.

The absence of controls for incoming calls and voice messages on WhatsApp appears to be a part of the service's fundamental design. In other words, the option is or is not there, because that is the design. The workaround of blocking contact is not really a feasible option. 

We suggest to add a privacy setting that allows users to control voice message reception, similar to other privacy options. The privacy setting "From who you want to receive voice messages" options or choices like "Everyone," "Contacts," or "Selected contacts". Implementing these privacy controls might substantially benefit users experience and privacy on WhatsApp.

AI Studio Chat Bots on WhatsApp: Identification Clarity Needed on the List View

Meta AI is a research division of Meta Platforms, Inc. In the recent past Meta AI capabilities have been integrated directly into the WhatsApp messaging interface. WhatsApp now allows users to interact with AI characters created through the Meta AI Studio. According to Meta AI documentation, this platform empowers "anyone to create conversational AIs based on their interests, for fun, utility, or support".

While these AI characters attempt to bring more excitement for WhatsApp users, there's a potential area for improvement that requires attention.

Currently, in the message list view WhatsApp lacks clear visual indicators to differentiate between human and AI character interactions. Within a conversation thread an indicator 'AI by...', and an AI studio logo are visible, and prominent. However, the list view relies on profile pictures and profile names that often closely resemble those of real human accounts, making it difficult to distinguish between them. Hence, implementing visual cues like highlighters or icons on the list view might be crucial for clarity.

Image illustration

The following images illustrate the suggestion. Certain portions of the images are redacted for privacy reasons.

Within a Conversation Thread

Once you open a chat thread, there are indicators
to differentiate between a human contact and an AI bot.

Conversations List View

List view relies on profile
pictures and profile names. Please observe here, on the list view, visual indicators to differentiate between human and AI character interactions might be needed.

Google Gemini: Ideas and Opinions — Chapter #01

Gemini (formerly known as "Bard") is a generative artificial intelligence chatbot developed by Google. As of March 2025, Gemini offers multiple chat models such as Gemini Flash (2.0, Experimental, Thinking Experimental with Apps), Gemini Advanced, etc. Google Gemini is a wonderful service, with fewer restrictions than some other AI chatbots. The excellent capability in Indic languages is definitely beneficial for many users.

On this website "Silent Contemplation," we strive to publish content with meaningful advocacy. We also share ideas and opinions on important subjects and content. In this post, we are writing our Ideas and Opinions on Google Gemini.

Notes:

1. The ideas and opinions are based on our usage of Gemini general chatbot on Android App interface, and web interface at gemini.google.com. We don't have access to Gemini Advanced.
2. A few features such as "Modify response", "Export to Doc" are available on Gemini App, and not on the web interface.
3. This post may not be all–inclusive. There might be follow-up posts in the future with additional ideas and opinions.

Table of Contents

1. 📌 Pin inside a discussion thread
2. Labels — Google's power feature
3. Search Option inside Gemini
4. Delete specific parts of a chat thread
5. Reuse a Prompt and Generate Another Response
6. Grouping message
7. Privacy Policy and Data Retention visibility
8. Search Operators
9. Theme and Background Image
10. See also

📌 Pin inside a discussion thread

While Gemini allows to pin a chat thread in the message thread view, it lacks the ability to pin individual messages within a conversation. This option, which seems to be missing now, allows to pin and quickly access some important parts of a discussion inside a thread, and possibly is an important feature of instant messaging.

Gemini does not have an option to 📌 pin a part inside a chat thread

Labels — Google's power feature

Labels or Labelling messages or content has been a wonderful feature used by Google. Labels (also folders, and tags) empower users to organize information effectively. Labeling feature has been widely used on Gmail, Google Keep, Google Contacts etc.

This feature appears to be missing on Google Gemini. On Gemini, where a user often generates a large volume of information, this "label" feature might be very useful to better organize the information. Ideally, a user should be allowed to label both entire chat threads and specific parts of a thread.

Search Option inside Gemini

For rapid information retrieval purpose a search option plays a very crucial role. A search option inside a user's Gemini account is not integrated still. A search option inside Gemini will allow a user to quickly locate content from the previous chats.

Gemini interface showing a search box.
The left panel has been edited to demonstrate the suggestion

Delete specific parts of a chat thread

Currently users can delete a chat thread. There seems to be no option to delete specific portions inside a chat thread. The only option seems to be deleting an entire thread. This option will allow a user to keep chat threads less cluttered and remove the specific parts they don't want to store.

Reuse a Prompt and Generate Another Response

There is an option on both the mobile application and on the web interface to edit a prompt. However there is no direct "reuse a prompt" option. A "reuse a prompt" option would significantly save a user's time and effort.

Similarly, to facilitate exploration of various answers from a single prompt, we suggest adding a "Generate more responses" button. This will allow to explore more options with the same prompt. Of course one can simply type "Generate/Give one more response". However, a quick button or option should be very useful.

Grouping message

We have two suggestions to allow users to group messages

1. Seamless Chat Model Switching: Gemini offers multiple chat models like 2.0 flash, 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental. On the web interface if a user wishes to switch the chat model during a conversation, it creates a new thread. On the application, there is no option to switch the chat model within a discussion thread. We suggest to enable users to switch chat models within an existing thread. This option would allow for better organization of related messages, preventing fragmentation across various threads.
2. How do you want to start the Gemini interface? Currently, when Gemini opens the interface, it starts a new chat thread by default.  There may be too many threads as a result of this.  We suggest including a prompt with the choices to "Start a new discussion" and "Continue an existing discussion" (with a dropdown menu for choosing) in order to increase and improve user control.  Additionally, users could customize their experience by selecting a "default new chat option" setting from the "Settings" menu.  This would enable a user to specify whether they would prefer to be prompted or to always start a new topic.

Privacy Policy and Data Retention visibility

On the Gemini chat interface, one of the most common questions a user might have is how is Gemini going to protect and use the data. Although the 'Privacy Hub' can be accessed via the 'Help' menu, the 'Privacy Policy' and 'Data Retention' details ought to be simpler to find. We suggest improving accessibility of important information inside the Gemini chat interface in order to boost user confidence and address standard data privacy and retention issues. This may also be randomly shown as a tip at the bottom of the text input box.

Search Operators

Google services like Gmail, Google Search, Google Drive allow users to use search operators. Search operators enable users to narrow down their search and eliminate irrelevant results. While Google Gemini is designed to answer a user's text–based query without any code, occasionally the answers might have errors or issues. At times, the search operators should be helpful in finding presice information. Example (common Google search operators): a) " " (Quotation Marks): Search for an exact phrase. - (Minus Sign): Exclude specific words or phrases etc.

Theme and Background Image

Currently Gemini allows to toggle between a dark and a light theme. To enhance personalization, we suggest to introduce a theme selector and a background image picker, similar to the options offered on Gmail and Google search.

See also

• Google Gemini — Ideas and Opinions #02, the second chapter in this series

Instant Messaging Delivery Receipt and Possible Privacy Issue

Several instant messaging services, such as WhatsApp, provide message delivery reports to senders. While delivery reports offer a useful confirmation that a message has reached its intended recipient's device, they can also present privacy concerns. 

My investigation into this issue began after a contact accurately deduced on multiple occasions that I was keeping my phone switched off during the afternoons. This detection surprised me. They later explained that they observed WhatsApp messages sent to me in the afternoon remained undelivered, and were consistently delivered after 6 am.

According to WhatsApp's help documentation a "delivery report" signifies that—

The message was successfully delivered to the recipient's phone or any of their linked devices.

Given that internet connectivity is required for message delivery, a user's decision to remain disconnected for personal reasons or digital well-being should remain private. However, the current delivery report system inadvertently often reveals a user's online connectivity status, including the precise time they regained internet access (i.e. the time when the message was delivered).

While services like WhatsApp offers to disable read receipts in settings, there appears to be no corresponding option to disable delivery reports. I have consulted available resources and help articles, conducted various tests, and inquired with AI models such as Meta AI and Gemini. The consensus is that users currently lack control over delivery reports.

Test screenshots

Test message sent to a contact.
The message was sent at 7:43 am. Most possibly they regained internet access around 9:30 am 

Another test message.
The message was delivered in a few minutes after sending.

Message sent to Meta AI bot on WhatsApp.
The bot is always online, so both delivery and reading were instant

Solutions

Just as we expect letters to be placed in the letterbox and couriers at the doorstep, respecting the privacy of personal space, a message delivery report revealing precise internet connectivity times might like an unwelcome overreach.

A potential solution would be to implement "sent reports" in place of "delivery reports." This approach, similar to that used by email services, would provide confirmation of message transmission and notification of bounce-backs, without disclosing the recipient's device arrival or internet connectivity status (and timing).

Alternatively, users could be provided with a toggle to disable "delivery reports" within settings, analogous to the existing "read receipts" functionality. .

A third potential solution would be to eliminate the "delivery to device report" feature entirely. 

Finally we hope that our observations and suggestions contribute to enhanced user privacy and a more positive instant messaging experience.