Google Disables ‘Take a Message’ Feature on Older Pixels Due to Mic Bug
Google has announced that it will disable the “Take a Message” feature on older Pixel phones due to a privacy concern. This decision affects users of the Pixel 4 and Pixel 5 series. The feature, introduced last year, allowed users to receive messages while declining calls, but it inadvertently caused some audio to be sent to the caller.
Privacy Issue with “Take a Message”
A small number of users reported that the “Take a Message” feature activated even when calls were declined. This led to background audio being transmitted to the caller, creating potential privacy risks. The callers could hear what was happening around the user’s phone, without any clear indicator that the microphone was active.
Google’s Response
In response to these reports, Google confirmed that the issue affected a very small subset of devices under specific and rare conditions. Therefore, the company will disable “Take a Message” as well as next-generation Call Screen features on the Pixel 4 and 5, both of which no longer receive Android updates.
Continued Options for Users
- Manual Call Screening
- Automatic Call Screening
- Carrier voicemail
While the privacy breach was not widespread, Google prioritized user safety by taking this action. Users can still rely on alternative screening options to manage their calls effectively.
The tech giant reassured the public that user privacy is of utmost importance and that they have investigated the issue thoroughly. However, they did not experience similar problems during their testing with a Pixel 4a.
As a result, this software adjustment aims to protect users while allowing them to maintain communication through other means.
