WhatsApp on iPhone may soon show which Apple Watch is connected: What it means for users

Meta is testing a new transparency feature for WhatsApp on iPhone. This feature will explicitly display when an Apple Watch is paired to a user’s account, addressing potential security concerns introduced by the messaging app’s recent expansion to watchOS. The feature, spotted in WhatsApp beta build 25.37.10.71 on TestFlight by WABetaInfo, adds a new “Peripherals” section to the app’s “Linked Devices” interface. This enhancement comes in response to security risks where accounts could be secretly paired with a partner’s or unauthorised person’s Apple Watch. This feature can remove any particular concern in abusive relationships where technology is often used for surveillance and control.

WhatsApp testing Peripherals section on iPhone: How it may work