Updated Jan 28, 2019 - Technology

Apple aims to fix FaceTime bug this week

Ina Fried

Apple's FaceTime chat app, as seen on a Mac. Photo: Apple

Apple hopes to fix this week a bug that allows users to hear audio from someone they call via FaceTime before that person has answered a call. In the mean time, the company has temporarily disabled the group FaceTime service.

Why it matters: The bug comes at an unfortunate time, landing on Data Privacy Day and as Apple has been trying to differentiate itself from rivals with a pro-privacy stance.

"We’re aware of this issue and we have identified a fix that will be released in a software update later this week,” Apple said in a statement to Axios.

Our thought bubble: The bug is obviously separate from Apple's positions on privacy issues, but comes as the company is increasingly trying to make the case that its products are more private than its rivals.

Earlier on Monday, CEO Tim Cook tweeted: "We must keep fighting for the kind of world we want to live in. On this #DataPrivacyDay let us all insist on action and reform for vital privacy protections. The dangers are real and the consequences are too important."

Update, 8:11 p.m. PT: Apple has now apparently disabled the group FaceTime feature pending the fix. Group FaceTime is listed as "temporarily unavailable," per this support page.

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Apple aims to fix FaceTime bug this week

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