Google disables Pixel feature due to audio leak bug
▼ Summary
– Google is disabling the “Take a Message” and next-gen Call Screen features on some older Pixel 4 and 5 devices due to a confirmed bug.
– The bug caused a small number of devices to inadvertently leak audio from the user’s environment to callers leaving a voicemail.
– The issue occurred under specific, rare circumstances when the automated “Take a Message” feature activated after a missed call.
– Affected users reported their microphone activating and transmitting room sounds without their interaction, as indicated by the privacy light.
– Google states impacted users can still use manual/automatic Call Screening or their carrier voicemail as alternatives for now.
Google has temporarily disabled specific features within its Phone app on older Pixel models following the discovery of a bug that could unintentionally transmit audio to callers. This problem is connected to the “Take a Message” feature, an automated voicemail transcription tool. Reports from a limited number of Pixel 4 and 5 users indicated their device microphones were activating and capturing ambient room sounds while a caller was attempting to leave a message.
A company representative confirmed the issue on an official support page, noting it impacts only a very small group of devices under particular and uncommon conditions. Out of an abundance of caution, the decision was made to deactivate both the Take a Message and the next-generation Call Screen functionalities on the affected handsets. This proactive step aims to prevent any potential privacy breaches while the underlying cause is addressed.
User accounts detail the unsettling nature of the glitch. One individual explained that callers did not hear a standard voicemail greeting. Instead, they reported hearing background noises and conversations from the phone owner’s environment. The user observed the microphone privacy indicator lighting up on their screen after missing a call, signaling that the device was actively recording without any manual input. It created a scenario where the phone behaved as if it had been answered, passively recording local audio and streaming it to the person on the line.
For the time being, owners of impacted Pixel devices can continue to use alternative options such as manual call screening, automatic Call Screening, or their standard carrier voicemail service. Google has not yet clarified whether this disablement is a permanent removal of the features or a temporary measure pending a software fix. The company’s response highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing innovative, automated assistance with the fundamental requirement for user privacy and data security in smartphone technology.
(Source: The Verge)
