Leading mobile messaging application WhatsApp told Ahram Online that the company "cares deeply about the safety our users," after being asked about an advertisement it unrolled in a number of Arab media outlets over the past few weeks.

WhatsApp has addressed "security and privacy" in a number of full page ads in Arab newspapers, including Egypt's state-run Al-Ahram newspaper and Akhbar
Al-Youm and pan-Arab newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat.

“WhatsApp cares deeply about the safety of our users and these ads are designed to inform people about ways to protect their account," a WhatsApp spokesperson told Ahram Online on Monday.

The ad reads, "your privacy, security, and protection are a priority for WhatsApp. This is why we have added a number of options that will help you stay safe while using WhatsApp". 

The ad then highlights six options users for to maintain their security and privacy while using the application, including blocking unwanted users and reporting suspicious messages.

It is unclear if the campaign by the Facebook-owned company only targets the Middle East and North Africa region.

Earlier in December, WhatsApp took to Indian primetime airwaves in a campaign to curb "fake news" on its platform.

India seeks to make it mandatory for multiple communications platforms, including the popular messaging application, to set up a way to trace the source of messages, which would require platforms like WhatsApp to break their end-to-end encryption.