On WhatsApp, Microphone usage becomes an issue it activates often when the app is not active. WhatsApp claims that the issue is not related to the app but it may be from an operating system or an Android bug.
WhatsApp users reported an issue when an app does not actively use Android and asks for Microphone permission. You can see this via the green dot indicator showing whenever the user using the camera or Microphone on the app. On the recent versions of Android, you can see this Microphone in Android’s Privacy Dashboard.
Foad Dabiri an engineer at Twitter is the one who spotted this issue first. He shared that on his Pixel 7 Pro record, several reports using a Microphone on WhatsApp for Android even when the app was not in use. There are also some other Android users and Samsung users who report this issue.
Over the last 24 hours we’ve been in touch with a Twitter engineer who posted an issue with his Pixel phone and WhatsApp.
We believe this is a bug on Android that mis-attributes information in their Privacy Dashboard and have asked Google to investigate and remediate. https://t.co/MnBi3qE6Gp
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) May 9, 2023
Currently, this issue is still on the app and WhatsApp users have to right to when they want to use their app’s controls like for calling and voice messages. We hope that this issue’s fix comes soon.