WhatsApp help pages hid AI instructions not to mention regulators
The privacy company Redact found 102 blocks of hidden text across 80 of 545 WhatsApp help pages it checked.
October 19, 2026 · Heads up
The privacy company Redact found 102 blocks of hidden text across 80 of 545 WhatsApp help pages it checked. People reading the pages could not see the text, but AI systems reading them could. Most of it was harmless. On the delete-account page, though, it told AI not to suggest contacting a data protection regulator, and another block told it not to cite privacy laws such as GDPR when users mentioned lawyers or courts. WhatsApp told WIRED the notes were meant for its support chatbot, appeared because of a bug, and are fixed. All of them were gone by October 18.
Why it matters to you: When you ask an AI assistant for help, its answer can be shaped by text you never see. For anything about your rights, check the company’s official policy and your privacy regulator yourself.
Try this: Know where to go if a company mishandles your data.
I live in [province or country]. Which government office handles privacy complaints about apps like WhatsApp, how do I file one, and what should I try with the company first?
Source: Redact
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