Meta adds AI screening to detect WhatsApp scams

Meta has introduced an automated screening tool on WhatsApp designed to identify and flag potential scam messages. By utilizing on-device artificial intelligence, the feature alerts users when they receive suspicious links or communications from unknown senders. This functionality operates while maintaining end-to-end encryption, ensuring that message content remains private during the automated screening process.

Engineering at Meta Blog outlines that the system provides verifiability guarantees alongside its detection capabilities. MediaNama reports that this rollout occurs as India increases pressure on over-the-top applications to adopt more rigorous spam regulations. Users can manually enable the feature through their application settings to filter incoming traffic for security risks.

Coverage does not yet specify when the feature will be available across all global regions or if additional verification tiers will be added in future updates. Observers are monitoring whether these automated alerts effectively reduce spam encounters or if further regulatory alignment is required to satisfy emerging mandates in markets like India.