Google identifies bug that led to WhatsApp accessing mic when not in use
Google is said to have identified the security bug in Android that led to “incorrect privacy indicators and notifications in the privacy dashboard” and gave way to WhatsApp "accessing the microphone of the device" even when the messaging platform was not in use.
According to a report, Google has said it is working towards fixing the vulnerability.
It should be noted that Meta-owned WhatsApp had blamed Google after a claim made by an engineering director at Twitter, who accused WhatsApp of accessing his microphone while he was sleeping. According to him, "WhatsApp has been using the microphone in the background while I was asleep and since I woke up at 6 AM."
Meta-owned WhatsApp responded to the engineer's complaint earlier this week, stating that they have been in contact with him for the past 24 hours regarding an issue he had with his Pixel phone and WhatsApp. The company also emphasised that users have complete control over their microphone settings.
WhatsApp clarified its microphone usage policy, stating, "Once permission is granted, WhatsApp only accesses the microphone when a user is making a call, recording a voice note, or video. Furthermore, these communications are protected by end-to-end encryption, ensuring that WhatsApp cannot listen to them."
This complaint against WhatsApp comes at a time when the messaging app has already been under scrutiny by the government over a growing number of international spam calls.
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