# WhatsApp to Launch “Private Processing” for AI Chats, Mirroring Apple’s Privacy Approach

## WhatsApp to Launch “Private Processing” for AI Chats, Mirroring Apple’s Privacy Approach

WhatsApp is stepping up its AI game with a new feature called “Private Processing,” designed to offer users a secure way to interact with Meta AI. Announced recently, this optional feature, slated for release in the coming weeks, promises a high level of privacy by ensuring that neither Meta, WhatsApp, nor any third-party entities can access the content of these AI interactions.

The core concept behind Private Processing is to allow users to “direct AI to process their requests,” such as generating AI chat summaries, without leaving a lasting trace on the system. Meta assures that the system will not “retain access to user messages once the session is complete,” mitigating the risk of unauthorized access even in the event of a security breach.

Meta’s focus extends beyond simply preventing breaches; they are also striving for transparency and accountability. The company aims to enable independent third parties to “audit the behavior of Private Processing to independently verify our privacy and security guarantees.” As part of this commitment, Private Processing is now included in Meta’s bug bounty program, encouraging ethical hackers to identify and report potential vulnerabilities. Moreover, Meta plans to publish a “detailed security engineering design paper” in the lead-up to the system’s launch, providing a deep dive into its security architecture.

The architecture of Private Processing bears a striking resemblance to Apple’s Private Cloud Compute (PCC). Similar to Apple, Meta will route Private Processing requests through a third-party provider utilizing OHTTP, a protocol designed to obscure users’ IP addresses. This extra layer of anonymity further enhances user privacy.

However, there are some key differences between WhatsApp’s and Apple’s approaches. As noted by *Wired*, all of WhatsApp’s AI requests will be handled on Meta’s servers, and users must actively initiate Private Processing. In contrast, Apple prioritizes on-device AI processing by default, only resorting to PCC when requests require more processing power.

While both companies are clearly prioritizing user privacy in the age of AI, their implementations differ in their approach to on-device versus cloud-based processing. Only time will tell how these different strategies will perform in practice and how users will perceive the balance between privacy and convenience. With its upcoming launch, WhatsApp’s Private Processing feature represents a significant step towards offering users a more secure and privacy-conscious AI experience.