Reports indicated that WhatsApp would mute Android smartphones without permission; Meta attributed the logs to a bug in the operating system
OR Whatsapp is accused of activating the microphone of the Android smartphone without the user’s consent, even when the application is not in use. Reports began to emerge over the weekend, in publications on the Twitterwith the alleged invasion of privacy occurring in specific models of mobile phones with the operating system.
The alleged misuse was initially identified by Foad Dabiri, an engineer at the social network, who posted a picture of his microphone usage history on his smartphone. Pixel7 ProFrom Google. The activations occurred during the night, while he was sleeping, with WhatsApp activating the component multiple times over nearly three hours.
WhatsApp has been using the mic in the background, while I was sleeping and since I woke up at 6am (and that’s just part of the timeline!) What’s going on? pic.twitter.com/pNIfe4VlHV
— Foad Dabiri (@foaddabiri) May 6, 2023
“WhatsApp has been using my mic in the background while I was sleeping and since I woke up at 6am (and that’s just part of the timeline!) what’s going on?”
Since the original release, multiple users have reported the same issue, even with images from the same timelines. In addition to the models of the Pixel line, illegal registrations would also be noticed in the Samsung Galaxy S23 AND S22 Ultraall running Android 13 operating system. Before the error was confirmed, there was already speculation that the identification represented a bug.
The disclosure of the alleged violation of privacy could be framed in the Privacy Dashboard, a feature introduced in 2021 which allows access to the usage history of mobile phone components by applications and gives users more control over their data. That’s where the screenshots posted on Twitter come from.
WhatsApp talks about bugs on Android
The case gained more notoriety on Tuesday (9), when the CEO of Twitter, Elon Musk, shared Dabiri’s account. Shortly after, the pronouncement of WhatsApp arrived, which in fact attributed the improper use of the microphone to a software flaw in the Android operating system, already being resolved by Google.
Users have full control over microphone settings
Once permission is granted, WhatsApp accesses the microphone only when a user makes a call or records a voice note or video and even then, these communications are protected by end-to-end encryption so WhatsApp cannot listen to them
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) May 9, 2023
“Over the past 24 hours, we’ve been in contact with an engineer at Twitter who posted an issue between his Pixel phone and WhatsApp. We believe this is a bug in Android that misattributes information in the privacy dashboard and request that Google investigate and correct.
Users have full control over microphone settings. Once permission is granted, WhatsApp accesses the microphone only when the user is on a call or recording a voice or video note, and even then, these communications are protected by end-to-end encryption, so WhatsApp he cannot access them to listen to them. “
According to the company, the privacy panel of the devices would be misinterpreting some privacy information, attributing the activations to WhatsApp. Those responsible for the messenger also said they were in contact with the Twitter engineer responsible for the disclosure and indicated that the users have full control over microphone usagewhich is activated only during calls, message recordings and other features where the component is needed.
Until an update appears, users experiencing the issue can simply restart their phone. This was the solution found by the users themselves, in an aspect that already indicated that improper activation of the microphone may not represent a violation of privacy, but rather a flaw introduced by updates to WhatsApp or Android itself.
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Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
