Instant messaging platform WhatsApp is working to bring support for the face unlock feature on Android devices. There is no specific date when the face unlock feature will be rolled out. But reports suggest that the Facebook-owned company will rename the fingerprint lock settings to biometric lock. WhatsApp is believed to be testing the new feature and soon it will submit the update through the Google Play beta version. The feature will be helpful specifically for Pixel 4 users. The Google device features only biometric unlock option is face unlock. WhatsApp’s new feature is likely to be based on the BiometricPrompt API of Android.
The BiometricPrompt API empowers apps to use face scanners and fingerprint sensors for authentication. WhatsApp has support for fingerprint unlock. Users can use their fingerprint to lock and unlock the app. The support for face unlock is another step towards strengthening its privacy laws. It will help in preventing people from spying on conversations. Notably, the face unlocking feature is already available on iOS. Apple introduced the FaceID feature back in 2017 with iPhone X. The new feature will be device-centric. This means when users change the handset, they will require to turn on the face unlock option on the new phone.
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WhatsApp has been testing a series of new features for a long. It wants to provide a new experience to users by making the platform more engaging. The company recently added a new Always Mute button. The new feature allows users to mute annoying contacts and groups forever. Earlier, the platform allowed users to mute for eight hours, one week, and one year. The company has replaced the one year option with Always Mute. The Always Mute feature is available on both Android and iOS. The platform is also working to integrate a feature where one can join an ongoing call even after missing it. It is also adding an in-app option to let users report bugs directly. WhatsApp has over 2 billion users globally.
