WhatsApp to get in-app browser soon to open shared links

WhatsApp is planning on introducing an in-app browser. WhatsApp’s in-app browser will help in combating fake news. WhatsApp’s in-app browser is still under development. WhatsApp is going big on combating the spread of fake news on its platform. Introducing features that would enable users to spot fake news, images and links being shared by other users, in-app browser within app that would notify users of fake content

The news comes as a courtesy of WABetaInfo, which actively tracks developments on WhatsApp. As per the findings of the publication, every time a user tries to open a link, it would open in WhatsApp's in-app browser. The in-app browser will be able to inform users if the requested page is not safe to visit. This would happen via the Safe Browsing feature. While the feature alerts users of the malicious content, it can also generate false positives, the publication cautions.

Notably, the feature, which was first spotted in the WhatsApp for Android beta version 2.19.74, is still under development. And WhatsApp is working on updating the featuring an ironing out the bugs before a full bug-free version of the feature is roll out to the main app. Interestingly, in the current phase of development, the social messaging app does not allow users to take screenshots or capture videos while using the in-app browser, reasons for which remain unknown at this point.

If you are worried that once the in-app browser is available, it would share your browsing history - the websites you are visiting - with Facebook, then the publication has some good news for you. The in-app browser would use an Android API, which means that everything will be managed by the system. To out it simply, WhatsApp or Facebook will not get an access to your browsing history.