[HN Gopher] WhatsApp has been using the microphone in the backgr...
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WhatsApp has been using the microphone in the background
Author : blacktulip
Score : 63 points
Date : 2023-05-09 18:07 UTC (4 hours ago)
(HTM) web link (twitter.com)
(TXT) w3m dump (twitter.com)
| smcleod wrote:
| How does Android not warn users about this, let alone block it?
| worldsavior wrote:
| It should warn. Android has mic/cam/location indicators but I'm
| not sure if this is enabled by default.
| markx2 wrote:
| Who said "They trust me -- dumb fucks"?
|
| Who owns WhatsApp?
| nittanymount wrote:
| if this is real (seems it is a real screenshot)
|
| how could/dare FB do this, hmm... interesting... like to learn
| more...
| scarface74 wrote:
| How is Android's security model such a shit show that this is
| even possible?
| DANmode wrote:
| Assuming you're an iOS user, that's a thread you really
| shouldn't pull.
| scarface74 wrote:
| Is there any app on iOS that can start using a microphone
| in the background without you explicitly starting it?
| LorenPechtel wrote:
| It would have to have mic privilege to make a call.
| netsharc wrote:
| But the system is configurable to deny, allow when app is
| in use, or allow at all times (even when the app is in the
| background).
|
| I wonder what the Twitterer's setting was...
| scarface74 wrote:
| And it makes no sense to have an option to allow an app
| to start listening while in the background without the
| user starting the session.
| Sohcahtoa82 wrote:
| Think more on what the app does. It allows you to make calls.
| It needs access to the microphone.
|
| But a user likely doesn't want to be forced to keep WhatsApp
| open as the front screen app while in a call. Maybe they want
| to open their e-mail or Calendar while in a call. That means
| the app needs to be able to use the microphone while running
| in the background.
|
| Though I suppose you could argue that the app should not be
| allowed to _start_ using the microphone while the app is in
| the background. Yes, I think that 'd be quite reasonable.
| cma wrote:
| What if you want to answer a call straight from the
| notification dropdown?
| scarface74 wrote:
| You can do that on iOS devices _after you explicitly
| press a button to answer the call_
| scarface74 wrote:
| > Though I suppose you could argue that the app should not
| be allowed to start using the microphone while the app is
| in the background
|
| That's the crux of the problem. Why should any app be able
| to _start_ a listening session without the user's explicit
| intervention?
| SilverBirch wrote:
| I find the response to this depressing. Instead of an actual
| legitimate "Let's figure out if it's real, do some proper
| scrutiny and then get angry", we're getting the
| hydroxychloroquine jerks screaming - which does a great job of
| delegitimizing what _could_ be a legitimate concern.
| MiguelX413 wrote:
| What does "hydroxychloroquine jerks" mean?
| em-bee wrote:
| the opposite of supercalifragilisticexpialidocious friends
| worldsavior wrote:
| This screenshot doesn't make any sense. Android won't allow a
| background app to access the microphone or camera. If it would,
| then there is an exploit in Android but I doubt it's a security
| bug since no one actually noticed it (Android notifies when an
| app access the microphone).
|
| Also, if Whatsapp did somehow listen in the background , it seems
| like those are one-time accesses. WhatsApp would not benefit
| anything if it would listen for a very short time.
|
| It seems like it would be a stupid action from WhatsApp, since
| they would have to go through the trouble of transcribing voice
| to text, and it costs power.
|
| If WhatsApp would listen all the time, or for even a minute, the
| battery consumption would go very high. Doesn't seem feasible.
|
| It seems like a bug in WhatsApp or a bug in Android's privacy
| dashboard.
| serial_dev wrote:
| Where can I see this? I have a recent version of Android on a
| Pixel 6, I have WhatsApp installed, but I didn't find this view
| on my phone.
|
| Edit: Found it in the tweet replies: Settings, Security and
| Privacy, Privacy, Privacy Dashboard
| goguy wrote:
| Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Privacy Dashboard
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(page generated 2023-05-09 23:02 UTC)