The rapid spread of misinformation in the digital age has become a serious problem, especially through social media and messaging platforms. In this context, WhatsApp will allow users to search photos directly from the internet to protect users from misinformation.

WhatsApp supports reverse image search

WhatsApp is testing a reverse image search feature to combat misinformation. The popular messaging platform is working on a new feature that will help users verify and fact-check the images they receive from the app. Accordingly, you will be able to search photos directly on the internet.

The new feature, which is being tested in WhatsApp beta versions for Android and iOS, shows the ‘Search Web’ option when long-pressed on images. When this option is tapped, the phone’s default browser opens and the image is automatically searched on Google.

The feature allows users to search the internet to find the original source of an image or check if it has been altered or taken out of context. Reverse image search will be useful for weeding out misinformation spread through photos and files on messaging platforms.

Users can currently perform reverse image search in tools such as Google Lens by downloading images externally. However, WhatsApp’s direct integration will shorten this process. The company also said that it does not store or have access to the searched images. It will only serve as a bridge to start a search on Google.

The feature is still in development and has not been widely available even for beta testers. If rolled out to a wider audience, it will allow WhatsApp’s more than 2 billion users to better verify visual content.