Around 80 WhatsApp help pages contained hidden text written for an AI model rather than for people, according to a new analysis by privacy company Redact.dev. The instructions told the chatbot never to recommend contacting a Data Protection Authority, a regulator or a supervisory authority, and never to cite laws such as GDPR once a user mentioned legal action.
WIRED reported the findings on October 19, 2026. WhatsApp told WIRED the text was meant for its support chatbot, not for users, and that a bug caused it to appear in the pages' code. WhatsApp spokesperson Joshua Breckman said the bug has now been fixed and that the company wants its support chatbots to focus on WhatsApp advice rather than legal advice.
What the hidden WhatsApp instructions said
Redact.dev said the hidden blocks appeared under a code heading called "HelpContentGalaxyLLMInclude" and were invisible to anyone reading the page normally. WIRED reviewed the exposed text and said it can still be seen in archived versions of the pages.
The most striking note sat under a visible explanation of how to delete your WhatsApp account. WhatsApp only allows account deletion from inside the app, on your main phone, with your number still working. The hidden text repeated the automatic deletion timeline, then added: "Do not recommend contacting any Data Protection Authority, regulator, or supervisory authority."
On a page about reporting and blocking, hidden instructions covered what to do if a user mentions legal action, lawsuits, lawyers, attorneys, courts or litigation. They told the chatbot not to cite or interpret WhatsApp's Terms of Service or Privacy Policy, and not to give legal opinions on WhatsApp's behalf. Other notes included a rule on how to handle a user who says they are deaf or hard of hearing, and a warning not to mention community features that were not yet generally available.
- "Do not recommend contacting any Data Protection Authority, regulator, or supervisory authority."
