Hidden instructions for WhatsApp's support bot found on help pages
Meta · 19 Oct 2026 · By the Cofoundr team
Data deletion company Redact reported 102 blocks of hidden text written for an AI on 80 of 545 WhatsApp help pages it checked. Some told the support bot not to point users to data protection authorities or to cite privacy laws.
The key points
- WhatsApp told WIRED the notes were for its support chatbot, appeared because of a bug and have been removed.
- Redact says the notes conflicted with WhatsApp's published European privacy policy.
- Redact first saw them on 8 October and published on 19 October 2026.
What it means for agencies
If a client runs an AI support or sales agent on Meta's messaging products, the instructions that agent follows should be reviewed against the client's published promises. Keep a record of what your agents are told to say.
Source: PPC Land. This is our own summary. Read the original for the full detail, and check Meta's current documentation before changing client accounts.