WhatsApp introduces IP Protect, a new privacy feature that hides users’ IP addresses during calls by routing them through secure servers, strengthening location privacy worldwide.
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| The new IP Protect setting in WhatsApp strengthens personal data protection by masking location-linked IP addresses during calls, reflecting broader trends in global digital privacy and IT security. Image: CH |
Tech Desk — February 27, 2026:
WhatsApp has introduced a new privacy-focused feature known as IP Protect, reinforcing its strategy to enhance user security amid rising global concerns over digital surveillance and online tracking. The feature is designed to conceal users’ IP addresses during audio and video calls, preventing other participants from identifying their approximate geographic location.
Owned by Meta Platforms, WhatsApp has long emphasized end-to-end encryption as the foundation of its privacy model. However, while encryption secures the content of messages and calls, IP Protect addresses a different layer of digital exposure — network metadata. An IP address can reveal a user’s general location and internet service provider, which in certain situations can pose safety and privacy risks.
Traditionally, many internet-based calls rely on peer-to-peer connections, where devices communicate directly with each other. In such setups, IP addresses may be technically accessible during the connection process. With IP Protect enabled, WhatsApp instead routes calls through its own servers. This intermediary routing system masks the IP addresses of both participants, making it significantly more difficult for anyone on the call to trace another user’s location.
Technology analysts describe this move as part of a broader industry shift toward limiting digital footprints. As cybersecurity threats, online harassment, and data misuse cases continue to rise across regions including North America, Europe, and Asia, messaging platforms are under growing pressure to expand their privacy safeguards beyond basic encryption.
WhatsApp has acknowledged that routing calls through company servers rather than maintaining a direct device-to-device link may result in a minor impact on call performance, such as slightly increased latency or reduced connection efficiency. However, experts argue that the trade-off is relatively small compared to the added layer of privacy protection. For users communicating with unfamiliar contacts, conducting online transactions, or operating in sensitive professional environments, concealing IP addresses can significantly reduce potential vulnerabilities.
The feature is optional and must be activated manually within the app’s settings. Users can enable it by navigating to the Privacy section, accessing Advanced settings, and switching on the “Protect IP Address in Calls” option. Once activated, future calls will automatically be routed through WhatsApp’s secure servers.
The introduction of IP Protect underscores how privacy competition among global technology firms is intensifying. As governments debate stricter digital regulations and users become increasingly aware of how metadata can reveal personal information, companies are responding by integrating more sophisticated privacy controls. In expanding its protection from encrypted content to include IP masking, WhatsApp signals that safeguarding communication today requires addressing not only what is said, but also the digital traces left behind.