Khaberni - Google Pixel users have disclosed an unusual technical glitch that raises privacy concerns, as it allows callers to hear phone owners' conversations while they leave a voicemail, without the other party realizing that the call is still open.
According to a user on the platform "Reddit", he explained that his wife was surprised that callers leaving her voicemails on a Pixel 5 phone could hear what she was saying in the background, although she couldn't hear anything on her end, making it seem like she had intentionally ignored the call.
However, the caller, in fact, is able to listen to everything surrounding the phone, a clear breach of privacy, according to a report published by "phonearena".
The user clarified that the experiment was repeated practically, as he tried leaving a voicemail for his wife, and heard the automated message asking to record a message after the tone, while his wife's phone showed the call as missed or unattended.
During the recording of the message, the husband was able to hear his wife clearly, whereas she did not hear him at all.
Complaints were not limited to a single device, as other users reported encountering the same issue on Pixel 4a phones, while one said that the glitch appeared on a device in the Pixel 10 series, prompting some to describe what was happening as a privacy violation.
The Take a Message feature under suspicion
Although some users ruled out the problem being linked to the "Take a Message" feature, others believe it could be the likely cause.
This feature plays an automated message when the call is not answered, allowing the reading of the message text dictated by the caller to decide whether to respond or not.
The feature, which started with Pixel 10 phones, was later expanded to include Pixel devices from 4 to 9 in several countries, including the United States, UK, Australia, and Ireland, in addition to its role in alerting the user to nuisance calls.
Temporary solution pending clarification
Some users recommend disabling the "Take a Message" feature as a precaution, by accessing the settings of the "Phone by Google" app, then the "Call Assistant" section, and manually turning off the feature, in case it proves to be the cause behind the glitch.
In summary, this fault resembles receiving a call in which the caller can hear you while you cannot hear them, a troubling scenario that may prompt users to say things that were not supposed to be heard by others.
From its side, "Google" has confirmed that it is aware of these reports and is currently investigating them, with a company spokesperson saying that the specialized team "is reviewing the incoming reports and working to understand the causes of the problem".
