Meta Introduces Privacy Features on iOS

Meta introduced a privacy feature that will notify iOS users when a screenshot of their profile picture has taken place, to enhance privacy by preventing users from taking and sharing profile pictures without the owner’s explicit consent.

While individuals could still use other devices to capture images, the in-app restriction on screenshotting is expected to reduce unauthorized sharing significantly, according to the report.

This upcoming feature on WhatsApp is set to be crucial in reducing the risk of profile photos being misused or distributed without consent, as it prohibits users from taking screenshots. The report notes that this feature is currently in development and will be included in a future app update.

As for Android user, Meta hasn’t forgotten about you and they are testing a new privacy feature dubbed “filter”, this feature allows users to furnish their contacts with a specific tool that allows them to easily compile a list of their favorite contacts and groups from the chats tab.

These features are great, and they are of great added value to Meta users around the world. Speaking of the world, what about the Middle East, Meta?

Meta in the Middle East

Meta opened its Middle Eastern headquarters in Dubai Internet City in March 2022.

Facebook parent’s presence in the Middle East has had several journeys that aren’t interrelated, or maybe they are, but our human brain isn’t comprehending them due to the current situations going on.

Facebook which falls under its parent company, holds significant user bases in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with Egypt hosting 42 million users, ranking it 10th globally. Turkey follows closely with 32.8 million users, placing it 14th on the list. Libya leads in global reach, with 96.1% of individuals aged 13+ using the platform, while the UAE ranks 4th with 88.9% reach, and Qatar 8th with 83.6%. On the other hand, Cairo holds the 7th largest Facebook audience with 8.9 million users.

You’ve got a large Arab audience, Meta. Due to the high number of users in the Middle East, Meta needs to implement safety features there. On the second of November 2023, unknown hackers targeted users in Saudi Arabia and Yemen using spying malware. It also boils down to the world’s biggest war that began on the 7th of October, where the Israeli Lavender system was used to spy on Palestinians to target them.

Safety measures must be implemented in the region due to many factors which are there are high number of users and several incidents took place that showed Meta wasn’t on the Arabs side. Meta must be encrypted in the Middle east as it is stated because if it was no one would be able to hack the Saudi’s and Yemeni’s as well as the implementation of Lavendar AI. Taking a screenshot of a profile picture and to notify iOS users is creating privacy issues but not as much as the company spying on a selected population of users.  

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