Elon Musk Announces X’s New Voice and Video Calling Features, Along with Updated Privacy Policy
On Thursday, Elon Musk announced that his social network X, previously referred to as Twitter, will soon introduce voice and video call capabilities. However, Musk, known for making promises about upcoming features and regulations that may not always materialize, did not provide a specific timeline for when users can expect these features to be accessible.
The company also updated its data protection policy, which enables, among other things, the collection of biometric data and work history.
Musk posted on the former Twitter that the site’s voice and video calls work on Apple and Android devices and computers “No phone numbers needed.”
Competing social platforms already offer voice and video calling. Meta, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, introduced voice and video calls to Messenger in 2015. Snapchat added them in 2016.
X did not immediately respond to a request for more information about the new features or their availability.
The platform’s new privacy policy, which goes into effect on September 29, tells users that “subject to your consent, we may collect and use your biometric information for security and identification purposes.” It does not say what biometric data is collected. Biometric data may refer to fingerprints, facial recognition, and the like.
“The announcement is at least an acknowledgment that X is going to do what other social networks have already done more covertly,” said Stephen Wicker, a Cornell University professor and privacy expert.
Two years ago, Facebook agreed to a $650 million settlement in a privacy lawsuit that alleged it used facial recognition and other biometric data in photos without its users’ consent.
“X’s announcement expands the ongoing farming of social network users for personal data that can be used for targeted advertising,” Wicker said, adding that such data collection “remains a problem for the individuals providing the data, while a source of wealth for those taking it.”
For users in the European Union, where a sweeping regulation aimed at Big Tech — known as the Digital Services Act — took effect last week, X also added a new reporting tool for posts and ads that might violate the new rules. The feature is not available outside the EU, where the rules do not apply.
In June, Twitter took part in a voluntary “stress test” to see if it was ready to cope with the DSA’s requirements, which include protecting children online and detecting and mitigating disinformation in both normal and extreme situations. At the time, European Commissioner Thierry Breton noted “Twitter’s strong commitment to complying” with the DSA, but added that “work must continue.”
