Apple is poised to clamp down on the way the Facebook suite of apps handles voice calls in the forthcoming iOS 13 operating system.
As announced at WWDC, the iPhone maker will no longer apps to run Voice Over Internet Protocol technology in the background. This will affect Facebook more than many app providers, as The Information reports.
Facebook messenger and WhatsApp for example, always have VOIP running. On the surface, this is to provide a better, faster experience for users when connecting calls. However, there are also privacy fears; fears that Facebook could be sopping up user data (via Engadget).
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The report said Facebook could be compelled to redesign their apps completely, because WhatsApp in particular uses the VOIP tech to power its end-to-end encryption for all communications.
A statement from Facebook acknowledged the changes are coming and and said it is discussing how to proceed with Apple. Naturally the company says there is no data collection involved. But, you know, Facebook.
A statement reads: “The changes to the upcoming iOS releases are not insignificant, but we are in conversations with Apple on how best to address. To be clear—we are using the PushKit VoIP API to deliver a world-class, private messaging experience, not for the purpose of collecting data.”
Facebook and other developers using VOIP tech in the background will have until April next year to get their apps in order. While the change may mean slower connections for users, iPhone owners may see improved battery life as a result. That constantly running VOIP connectivity isn’t exactly an app’s most efficient feature.
iOS 13 is scheduled to roll out in September alongside the next generation iPhone hardware. It’ll have a system wide dark mode, a new sign-in with Apple feature and an array of performance improvements.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
