Google Identifies Bug That Showed WhatsApp Was Accessing Mic: Report

Google has identified the security bug in Android that led to WhatsApp "accessing the mic" of the device.

WhatsApp later clarified its microphone usage policy. ( Image Source :Getty )

Google has 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, media reports say. Google has said it is working towards fixing the vulnerability, according to a report by Gadgets Now.

It should be noted that Meta-owned WhatsApp had blamed Google after a claim made by Foad Dabiri, an engineering director at Twitter, who accused WhatsApp of accessing his microphone while he was sleeping. According to Dabiri, "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.

Meanwhile, WhatsApp, the world's most popular messaging platform on Thursday announced it has implemented new artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) systems that will reduce such calls by at least 50 per cent.

"...we have ramped up our AI & ML systems to bring down such incidents significantly. Our new enforcement will reduce the current calling rate by at least 50 per cent and we expect to be able to control the current incidence effectively. We will continue to work relentlessly towards ensuring a safe experience for our users," a WhatsApp spokesperson told ABP Live in a statement.