Google is disabling some features of the Phone app on older Pixel devices after identifying a bug that inadvertently leaked audio to callers. The issue has been specifically linked to the Take a Message released last year, which automatically answers and transcribes voicemails when you miss a call. Some Pixel 4 and 5 owners have reported that their microphones were being activated when callers left messages.
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“We have investigated this issue, which we have confirmed is affecting a very small subset of Pixel 4 and 5 devices under very specific and rare circumstances,” Google community manager Siri Tejaswinion a support page. “Out of an abundance of caution, we are disabling Take a Message and next-generation Call Screen features on these devices.”
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A Reddit who encountered the bug said that callers were not hearing the usual voicemail greeting and that they “could hear me/room sounds while leaving a message.” The user described how the microphone privacy indicator in the top right corner of his phone’s screen was activated after a missed call and enabling Take a Message.
“It was like I had picked up the phone, except I hadn't done anything. It just passively started recording me and sending audio to the caller.“
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We've asked Google if these features will be permanently removed from Pixel 4 and 5 devices or if they'll be restored in the future. For now, Tejaswini says that affected Pixel owners "will still be able to use manual and automatic Call Screening or their carrier's voicemail."
