NEW DELHI, India, Nov 9, (Agencies): WhatsApp, owned by Meta, introduces the 'Protect IP Address in Calls' feature, designed to enhance user privacy during voice calls. This new option conceals users' IP addresses by routing calls through WhatsApp Servers, preventing other call participants from accessing their IP and determining their approximate geographical location.

In a blog post on Wednesday, WhatsApp explained that many calling products rely on peer-to-peer connections, allowing faster data transfers and better call quality. However, this direct connection necessitates sharing IP addresses, which can reveal sensitive information like geographic location and internet provider.

The 'Protect IP Address in Calls' feature adds an extra layer of privacy and security, specifically catering to privacy-conscious users. While opting for call relaying may slightly impact call quality, WhatsApp reassures users that their calls remain end-to-end encrypted, ensuring privacy from even WhatsApp itself.

To activate this setting, users can navigate to Settings, then Privacy, click on Advanced, and toggle the 'Protect IP address in calls' option.

In other news, WhatsApp's head, Will Cathcart, stated that the platform might introduce ads in Status, the Stories-like feature, and channels, excluding the main inbox. Cathcart clarified in an interview with Brazilian media that the company has no plans to display ads in users' primary chat space, ensuring a focused and uninterrupted messaging experience.