Downing Street has confirmed that Sir Keir Starmer's WhatsApp messages are set to automatically delete after a set period, following a controversial update to the messaging app. The Prime Minister's office stated that the feature is part of a broader rollout by WhatsApp, which now allows users to choose from three durations for disappearing messages: 24 hours, seven days, or 90 days.
The update, announced by WhatsApp on Monday, extends the existing seven-day option that was introduced in November 2020. Users can now opt for messages to vanish after just 24 hours or up to 90 days. The feature can be applied to all new chats by default, though existing conversations remain unaffected unless manually changed.
A No 10 spokesperson confirmed that Starmer's messages are set to auto-delete, but declined to specify the chosen time frame. The move has drawn criticism from child safety experts, who argue that shorter deletion periods could hinder investigations into online abuse. Andy Burrows, head of child safety online policy at the NSPCC, described the 24-hour option as a 'poorly thought out design decision' that 'will enable offenders to rapidly delete evidence of child abuse'.
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, defended the update, stating that it gives users more control over their digital footprint. 'Deciding how long a message lasts should be in your hands,' the company said in a blog post. The app remains end-to-end encrypted, and there is no feature to prevent recipients from taking screenshots.
