Overview

• WhatsApp began rolling out the official chat on April 16 in Germany and the UK, with gradual expansion to more users across Europe and the UK.
• Initial messages inform users about end-to-end encryption, explain that WhatsApp cannot access personal content and outline phishing prevention measures.
• The chat interface displays a blue verification checkmark to distinguish official messages from potential imitators.
• Users retain full control and can mute, archive, delete or block the chat on both Android and iOS devices.
• This new channel replaces WhatsApp’s previous broadcast system, ensuring important updates appear prominently in the main chat list.