Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has just added a new calling feature. Audio and video calls can now be made through the direct messaging system, prompting concerns that users’ locations would now be visible to strangers because it shows their IP addresses. This option is turned on by default and anyone with a profile on the platform can be called by other users. The receiver can have their town, city, or postcode leaked and found out just from obtaining the IP address of the person receiving the call.
Digital rights activists and organizations are concerned about this new feature. The Open Rights Group and Big Brother Watch labeled X’s move as “extremely concerning” and “a serious error of judgment” regarding users’ safety and privacy.
X’s feature reveals a user’s IP address when they are called. An IP address is a unique set of numbers assigned to a device connected to the internet, like a phone or laptop. Those numbers enable the device to communicate with the web and contain private information such as the device’s physical location.
An IP address can reveal a user’s town, city, or postcode. It can also be used to find and even expose an individuals’ exact address without their consent, a harmful practice known as ‘doxxing.’
Some people utilized X’s “community notes” feature to highlight important details in the original post. This was done to help educate others about privacy concerns regarding the new feature.
The function can be disabled, but some people have reported receiving an error message or trying multiple times before the feature turns off. Apparently, it can only be disabled using X’s mobile app, and not on a browser.
There is a limit to who can contact an X user directly on their profile. According to the platform’s policy, the caller must have previously messaged the account at least once. Initially, the audio feature was exclusive to premium users. Before the new call feature, all stalkers and harassers could do was to send messages. Now, they can also make calls, removing yet another layer of safety.
After receiving numerous complaints, the social media company has introduced the ‘Enhanced Call Privacy’ option, which enables users to mask their IP addresses during calls.
How to enable this feature:
- Tap the envelope icon. You’ll be directed to your messages.
- Tap the settings icon in the top right corner; this will open up your Messages settings.
- Toggle “Enhanced call privacy” on.
How to turn the audio and video calls feature off:
- Go to the X app on your phone.
- Go to your messages and tap the settings button.
- Turn the button marked “Enable audio and video calling” to “off” (make sure it is not green).
If you encounter an error or a glitch, try closing and reopening the app. Some users reported this helped configure their settings, while others had to uninstall and reinstall the app.
How to protect your IP address online:
The best option to protect your IP address from being revealed without your consent is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
A VPN encrypts your internet connection and routes it through a server in a location of your choice, effectively masking your actual IP address. This will add an additional layer of protection when using features like the peer-to-peer call feature in the X app on iPhone and Android.
