WhatsApp Faces Backlash Over AI Feature Users Can’t Remove

WhatsApp has introduced a new AI chatbot feature powered by Meta’s Llama 4, claiming it is “entirely optional,” although users cannot remove the permanent Meta AI icon from their chat screens. The tool’s launch has drawn criticism from users, privacy experts, and authors, particularly over concerns regarding data privacy, the use of personal information to train AI models, and the inability to turn off the feature. Similar user frustrations recently pushed Microsoft to make its “Recall” AI feature optional. Regulatory bodies and privacy advocates are monitoring the implications, especially for minors’ data, while Meta faces ongoing legal scrutiny over its data and content-collection practices.

Read more