Apple announce long-awaited call feature coming to iOS 18 but it’s leaving some people very concerned about the legalities
The long-anticipated feature has some people worried they could end up in hot water with the law if they use it.
Apple’s iOS 18 announcement took place on June 10 and iPhone users are sharing their excitement for the new features that will be made available.
The update is set to launch in September this year and includes many new additions and upgrades, including a revamp of Siri as an ultimate virtual assistant.
Advert
But there's one particular feature new to the iPhone that's causing a stir and is expected to be a controversial addition to the upgraded operating system.
Apple plans to introduce call recording for the first time, with a transcript being automatically generated in real time.
A similar feature will exist in the Notes app where you can transcribe voice notes to read later.
Both recordings will provide a summary of the conversation with key points of what was discussed.
It’s an exciting new development for the tech giant but the announcement has come with some concerns.
Users have expressed their fears of the legality around call recording and whether this will vary depending on which state you live in.
Taking to Reddit to air their views, one person said: “I feel like this is gonna get messy.”
While another worried commenter asked: “Is adding something like this to iOS 18 legal if you are traveling from state to state?”
But fear not, senior vice president of software engineering, Craig Federighi, was quick to put everyone’s minds at ease.
He confirmed that participants of the call will be notified if you begin recording, eliminating the possibility of secretly recording or doing so without both parties’ consent.
Many Android phones also have this feature to notify both ends of the call but others also silently record, which raises questions around consent and privacy.
Other people commenting on the update on Reddit were less impressed, with one user writing: “It’s crazy how long this took. Android has had this ability for years.”
There are some Android devices that have supported call recording for a while and, with rivalry between Android and Apple users being a heated one for years, this isn't the only feature that seems a long time coming for the iPhone.
The iOS 18 update will also allow users to customize their home screen like never before, moving widgets freely around - something Android has allowed for years.