The 'Request Account Info' option for WhatsApp for iPhone has been launched just ahead of the infamous European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) law which will be enforced from May 25.

WhatsApp has been introducing back-to-back updates to offer an even better user experience and now WhatsApp for iPhone has recently received 'Request Account Info' option which was first introduced on WhatsApp for Android last month through a beta version. The 'Request Account Info' option allows users to download their data that has been collected by the instant-messaging app, including their account information and settings, however, not any personal messages. 

The feature debuts just ahead of the infamous European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) law which will be enforced from May 25. Facebook, which is the parent company of WhatsApp, has also been providing a similar feature through which users can download the data that the Facebook platform has on its users.

In February this year, amid all the criticism over data abuse by Facebook, WhatsApp Inc had reassured the users that their data, as well as communications, are secured with the end-to-end encryption implementation and nobody in between can read their messages or listen to calls, not even WhatsApp itself. That being said, the company did say that it collects very little data, however, speculations suggested that the metadata related to whom and how often a user is talking to someone can still be mined. 

With WhatsApp for iPhone getting the 'Request your account information' feature, the Facebook-owned platform is allowing users to request as well as export a report of their account information along with settings, such as contacts, groups and profile photos that can be accessed and transferred to another app. On the other hand, the report does not include users' messages and for that, a user can export his or her chat history to the email.

Here’s how to download WhatsApp data on iPhone
In order to request the data which WhatsApp has collected so far, users need to download the version 2.18.60 of WhatsApp for iPhone from the App Store and they have downloaded it, they need to visit Settings > Account > Request Account Info. After that, they will be taken to the Request Account Info tab from where they need to tap on the Request Report option.

However, it should be noted that WhatsApp will generate the users’ report in around three days after the request has been made, and once generated, the report will be available for download for just a few weeks. Users will also receive notification when their reports are available.

That being said, certain account actions, such as deleting your account, changing your registered number or device and re-registering your account, will end up canceling your request.