Elon Musk says “WhatsApp cannot be trusted” after the app allegedly accessed microphone while not in use
Daniel Levi
Posted On May 9, 2023
Twitter CEO Elon Musk said on Tuesday that Meta’s owned WhatsApp cannot be trusted. The billionaire made the statement after Twitter user by the name Dabiri claimed that WhatsApp used the microphone on his phone in the background while he was sleeping.
“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?,” Dabiri asked in a tweet.
WhatsApp cannot be trusted https://t.co/3gdNxZOLLy
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 9, 2023
WhatsApp is a popular cross-platform messaging app that allows users to send text messages, voice messages, and make voice and video calls over the internet using iPhone, Android phones, Windows Mobile, or Blackberry. The app was created in 2009 by two former Yahoo employees and was acquired by Facebook in 2014 for $19 billion. WhatsApp is available in over 180 countries and has over 2 billion monthly active users, making it one of the most widely used messaging apps in the world.
It is known for its end-to-end encryption, which provides users with secure messaging and makes it difficult for outsiders to intercept or read messages. However, in recent years many privacy advocacy groups have raised some concerns related to user data privacy Since Meta acquired the app about a decade ago.
However, the issue is not really new. Google Support addressed the issue and provides a workaround on what WhatsApp users can do to protect themselves. In an article titled, “Microphone always keep switched on after Whatsapp call,” Google support wrote:
“The green dot on the upper right corner on my screen is always on and the microphone is used by the WhatsApp. Green dot disappear after restarting but again appears after making a Whatsapp call. This is happening for last 15-20 days.”
Another article titled, “WhatsApp permission for microphone,” also explains how users can address the issue
“I have given the permission of microphone to WhatsApp to use it while using the app , but it shows using microphone even after I stop using WhatsApp or also after I remove the WhatsApp from the running apps.”
