WhatsApp sends users direct messages - now also in Germany

WhatsApp is introducing an official chat for customer communication in Europe and the UK. The new chat window in the app will be used to inform users about new functions and provide advice on security.

The new customer communication channel was announced for Germany and the UK back in April. Now it has been appearing for a few days for the first users in Germany – and is causing some irritation.

WhatsApp chat as a direct line to the user

According to Meta subsidiary WhatsApp, “helpful information to protect” the account is to be shared via the official WhatsApp chat. The company also wants to use the channel to provide information on fraud attempts such as phishing and tips on how to use the messenger optimally.

The message, which has been sent on a larger scale since around Tuesday, deals with the topic of end-to-end encryption. Meta announces that not even WhatsApp has access to personal messages and that end-to-end encryption is available for chats, phone calls and other classic advertising messages.

WhatsApp has been publishing information of this kind on its own company blog for a long time, but not many people are likely to be aware of it. With a chat window in its messenger, the company should be able to reach more people –. WhatsApp also offers its channel, in which content is only shared in English. After all, it has almost 240 million subscribers.

WhatsApp chat can be removed

To help users recognize that the chat is an official offer and not a copycat, the chat window has a blue verification symbol.

If users are not interested in the WhatsApp offer, they can archive, delete or block the chat like any other. The corresponding options appear at the top right of the app by long pressing on the chat window.

(afl)