Google and WhatsApp have confirmed that they are aware of a bug that makes it appear that WhatsApp is unnecessarily accessing phone microphones on some Android devices. The issue first surfaced a month ago but gained attention after a Twitter engineer wrote about it in a post backed by Elon Musk.

An image shared by Twitter engineer Foad Dabiri showed the microphone repeatedly running in the background while he wasn’t using the app. He tweeted a screenshot of an Android privacy panel that tracks how often apps access the device’s microphone and camera. .

Musk retweeted Dabiri’s post saying “WhatsApp can’t be trusted.” By the way, Musk is known to be a fan of Signal and has said that encrypted direct messages on Twitter could be coming as early as this month. The company did not respond to a request for comment.

In a statement posted on Twitter, WhatsApp proposed this was an Android related issue and not the result of improper microphone access by the messaging app. “We believe this is a bug in Android that incorrectly attributes information in their privacy panel and have asked Google to investigate and fix it,” the company said in a statement. said.

Dabiri is not the first to notice the problem. whatsapp blog wabetainfo dedicated error a month ago, describing it at the time as a “false positive” affecting owners of some Pixel and Samsung devices. They added that rebooting the phone could be a possible solution. Meanwhile, Google hasn’t said much about what might be causing the discrepancy, but has confirmed it’s looking into the matter. “We are aware of this issue and are working closely with WhatsApp to investigate it,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement.

fandom, an entertainment site and wiki hosting, is introducing a new creator-focused initiative with the debut of the Creator Class, new quarterly workshops for creators. It also launches new portfolio of original video content with his acquired brands GameSpot, Metacritic and screen junkies.

Targeting its top creators, the company on Wednesday introduced a new program for contributors or administrators of its websites to help them learn how to improve their wikis. Creators can now access behind-the-scenes videos of the platform, and Fandom staff can provide advice on content development and marketing. Creators also get access to resource guides, which include a range of tasks and tips.

Senior Social Media Coordinator Miranda Faal will lead the first quarterly workshop to train authors on how to increase their social media presence. The seminar will take place at the end of this year.

Fandom says the next workshop will potentially discuss streaming and video production.

In addition, the Creator Class sessions will feature the best wikis created by top contributors and administrators to inspire others on how to improve their own campaigns.

An example of this would be “Memory Alphaa reference database created by members to provide Star Trek fans with all the information they need about the sci-fi franchise, including articles on all of its shows, characters, and timeline.

Michael Chang, Fandom’s chief commercial officer, told TechCrunch that Memory Alpha is likely to be a useful example for other creators to learn from.

“This is one of those things where, in this new age of structured and relational data, [something] we want to do more. I think someday there might be a class for authors [Memory Alpha]. If that’s what you want to do on your wiki… [how] they did it and the way we support them is in the background,” Chang said.

The Creator class is part of the Fandom. star programwhich was launched last year to celebrate the hard work of its most dedicated members and provide them with workshops, awards, and exclusive events such as screenings and conventions, as well as other fun and gaming activities.

The company told us that 230 members are currently considered stars. Fandom predicts it will have over 400 stars by the end of 2023.

Earlier this week, Fandom also announced the launch of seven new shows for gamers and entertainment enthusiasts. Games are Fandom’s largest audience, with 150 million monthly visits.

The first two premiere shows were “Honest Trailers Present” screen junkies‘popular’Honestly“series and”Kurt Lokerwhere Senior Producer GameSpot Kurt Indovina explores current gaming trends,

Screen Junkies is a YouTube channel with 6.8 million subscribers. What’s this acquired by Fandom in 2018. Screen Junkies, known for its web series Honest, which parodies movie and TV series trailers, is updating the series to include TV theme songs, celebrities, and commercials. Every week the web series has about a million views per fandom.

“Honest Trailers Presents” can be found on the Screen Junkies YouTube channel and on Fandom at video tab.

The first episode of Kurt Loker aired on May 2 under the title “Too Many Remakes?” Indovina talks about how many video games released in 2023, like Resident Evil 4 and Dead Space, are remakes or remastered games. Episodes come out every Tuesday.

In addition to “Kurt Loker”, GameSpot launches six other shows.

• No Hud (premiering May 3): Fans will learn about new ways to play video games. Episodes come out every Wednesday.
• Expert reaction (May 4): Expert commentary on popular video games. Broadcast on Thursdays.
• On air (May 5): Weekly news show hosted by editor-in-chief Tamour Hussain and senior producer Lucy James.
• How it helped (May 7): Senior Producer Dave Small talks about the video games that saved failed franchises.
• GameSpot insiders (premiere date to be confirmed): A quarterly limited series that goes behind the scenes of highly anticipated video games.
• Challenge accepted (TBC): Content creators and GameSpot employees team up to compete in various game challenges, such as defeating Mario using the Guitar Hero controller.

GameSpot’s new shows will be simulcast on its website, YouTube channel, and Fandom platform.

Meanwhile, Metacritic launches “Metacritic Review Lab” on YouTube Fandom Entertainment a channel where fandom critics and data scientists analyze new movie releases like Into the Spider-Verse, Fast and Furious X, Indiana Jones 5, and The Little Mermaid. Metacritic will release two or three episodes each month.