In Short
- WhatsApp users were concerned that the app is spying on them.
- However, this is just a bug.
- A Google spokesperson confirmed the bug in android.
By Divyanshi SharmaWhatsApp has often clarified its stance over users’ data safety and we all remember the January 2021 fiasco, wherein WhatsApp was accused of sharing users’ data with Meta. In a detailed post on its help center webpage, WhatsApp said that they cannot see users’ personal messages or hear their calls, neither do their users’ contacts and location with Meta. WhatsApp also claims that it offers end-to-end encryption on its messages. For the unversed, end-to-end encryption means that only you and the person you are communicating with using WhatsApp has access to what is sent. Nobody, not even WhatsApp, can access this information.
However, WhatsApp found itself embroiled in yet another data privacy controversy after a Twitter engineer claimed that the widely popular instant messaging was using his phone’s microphone at night, while he was fast asleep. The post went viral soon and even earned a reply from Twitter Boss Elon Musk who said, ‘WhatsApp cannot be trusted’. Given Musk’s contempt for Meta which is quite evident, this statement didn’t really come as a surprise.
Nevertheless, the viral tweet left various users concerned and people started talking about WhatsApp ‘spying’ on them through microphones.
But is the company really listening to your conversations? Here is the full story, in five points.
1. Elon Musk says WhatsApp cannot be trusted
It all began with a Twitter engineer’s tweet that showed an Android dashboard displaying that WhatsApp had been accessing his microphone in the background from 4:20 am till 6:53 am.
The Twitter engineer, named Foad Dabiri, shared the screenshot of the Android dashboard and wrote, “WhatsApp has been using the microphone in the background, while I was asleep and since I woke up at 6AM (and that’s just a part of the timeline!) What’s going on?
Retweeting the same, Elon Musk warned his followers and said that ‘WhatsApp can’t be trusted’.
2. WhatsApp asks Google to investigate
WhatsApp, in a tweet, had clarified the situation and wrote that the issue was arising due to a bug in android. They also said that they had been in touch with the engineer who was using a Google Pixel phone. Since the phone being used was a Google Pixel, WhatsApp asked the tech giant to investigate the matter.
In another tweet, WhatsApp added that its users have ‘full control’ over their microphone settings and that the mic can be accessed only when a user is making a call or is recording a voice note or video.
The company’s tweets read, “Over the last 24 hours we’ve been in touch with a Twitter engineer who posted an issue with his Pixel phone and WhatsApp. We believe this is a bug on Android that mis-attributes information in their Privacy Dashboard and have asked Google to investigate and remediate.”
“Users have full control over their mic settings Once granted permission, WhatsApp only accesses the mic when a user is making a call or recording a voice note or video – and even then, these communications are protected by end-to-end encryption so WhatsApp cannot hear them.”
Additionally, Shivnath Thukral, Director, Public Policy India, Meta said in an official statement, “We believe this is a bug on Android, Google has said they are looking into it. Your calls and voice notes are protected by end-to-end encryption so we cannot hear the microphone in any case. We’re aligned on safeguarding privacy.”
3. Google says it was a bug
A Google spokesperson confirmed that there was indeed a bug in Android that was producing inaccurate information. The spokesperson told Engadget, “Based on our current investigation, this reported bug in Android affecting WhatsApp users produces incorrect privacy indicators and notifications in the Privacy Dashboard. We are working to develop a fix for users.”
4. Indian governement steps in
On Wednesday, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that the Indian government will look into the claim of WhatsApp using users’ microphones secretly. He wrote in a tweet, “This is an unacceptable breach n violation of #Privacy. We will be examinig this immdtly and will act on any violation of privacy even as new Digital Personal Data protection bill #DPDP is being readied.”
5. WhatsApp’s privacy policy
WhatsApp has asserted that its privacy policy ensures safety of its users and that the privacy of their users is their ‘priority’. In its privacy policy statement elaborated on its official website, the company writes, “We can’t see your personal messages or hear your calls, and neither can MetaNeither WhatsApp nor Meta can read your messages or hear your calls with your friends, family, and co-workers on WhatsApp. Whatever you share, it stays between you. That’s because your personal messages are protected by end-to-end encryption. We will never weaken this security and we clearly label each chat so you know our commitment.”
Hence, if you take WhatsApp’s word for it, the company claims that it is not spying on you as it only uses the microphone in your device while you are making a call or recording a video or a voice note. As a user, you also need to allow WhatsApp to access your phone’s mic before it goes on to use it for the previously-mentioned purposes. As for the viral tweet, WhatsApp says it is a fault on Android. iPhone users, so far, haven’t reported seeing this information.
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