WhatsApp : WhatsApp has often made its stance clear that it does not want any misconceptions about user data security. But, in January 2021, allegations surfaced that WhatsApp had shared its users’ data with Meta. WhatsApp gave an explanation on its help center webpage. WhatsApp claims that they cannot see users’ private messages, listen to their calls, and do not share users’ contacts or location with Meta. It said that WhatsApp provides end-to-end encryption (access only to the sender and receiver) on its messages. So not only others, but finally even WhatsApp explained that it does not access personal information.
Even though the controversy was settled at that time, with a recent tweet by a Twitter engineer, WhatsApp has once again been embroiled in controversy. He tweeted that WhatsApp was using his mobile phone’s microphone at night when he was fast asleep. That tweet went viral. Elon Musk also replied to that tweet saying ‘Whatsapp can’t be trusted’. The viral tweet has worried many users. Many users have started discussing that WhatsApp is spying through the microphones of their mobiles. In this background, is WhatsApp really spying on the users? Is it secretly listening to their conversations? Let’s discuss the points..
Foad Dabiri, a Twitter engineer, said on Twitter that between 4:20 am and 6:53 am, while he was fast asleep, his mobile phone’s microphone was accessing WhatsApp in the background on the Android dashboard. To this extent, he shared a screenshot of the Android dashboard and tweeted. That has once again raised doubts about the privacy of WhatsApp. Elon Musk retweeted this tweet saying WhatsApp privacy can’t be trusted.
WhatsApp once again clarified on Twitter that there is no doubt about privacy and users should not worry. Google claims that the problem is due to a bug in Android in the Pixel mobile phone. They also said that they are in touch with a Twitter engineer who is using a Google Pixel phone. WhatsApp asked Google to investigate the matter as the phone used by the Twitter engineer was a Google Pixel. In another tweet, WhatsApp said that WhatsApp users will have full control over their microphone settings and will only be able to access the mic when the user is making a call, recording a voice note or video.
A Google spokesperson confirmed that a bug in Android was the cause of the Twitter engineer’s phone’s microphone appearing on the Android dashboard as if WhatsApp was accessing the phone’s microphone, and that the phone was indeed a bug in Android that was generating false information. He said that the bug was giving wrong instructions regarding the privacy of the phone. They said that they are working to solve the problem.
