Internet Archive

WhatsApp Secretly Instructed AI Support Bot to Suppress References to Data Regulators and Privacy Laws

Investigators discovered hidden instructions embedded in WhatsApp's public help pages that directed the company's AI chatbot to avoid recommending users contact data protection authorities. The instructions also prohibited the AI from citing privacy regulations such as GDPR, LGPD, or CCPA, even when users raised these topics themselves. The directives appeared on pages about account deletion and complaints, remaining invisible to human visitors but delivered to crawlers and the AI model. WhatsApp later confirmed the text was intended for its internal support chatbot and attributed the exposure to an error that has since been corrected. The findings highlight a gap between the company's publicly stated privacy policy and the operational guidance given to its AI systems.

Step-by-Step Guide to Removing Personal Data from Search Engines, Databases and Social Networks

The guide provides a practical seven-step checklist for individuals seeking to reduce their digital footprint by removing personal information from websites, search engines, and social platforms. It emphasizes starting with a 20-minute audit to compile exact URLs rather than vague requests, followed by direct contact with site owners under Russia's 152-FZ personal data law. Subsequent steps cover submissions to Yandex and Google for de-indexing, manual cleanup of old social media accounts, handling of phone numbers in caller ID services, and removal from directories and review sites. The process includes templates for formal requests, timelines for responses, and escalation paths to Roskomnadzor when operators fail to comply. Special attention is given to leaked databases, where technical removal is impossible, and to web archives such as Internet Archive that require specific legal justifications. The full cycle is estimated at two months, with quarterly maintenance recommended to sustain results.