In a significant development, Elon Musk’s social media platform, formerly known as Twitter and now rebranded as “X,” is poised to introduce video and audio calling features. The announcement was made by Musk himself on August 31, when he took to the platform to declare, “Video & audio calls coming to X.”
This move is part of Musk’s broader vision to transform X into what he calls an “everything app.” Notably, these features will be accessible across a range of operating systems, including iOS, Android, Mac, and PC. Importantly, users won’t be required to share their phone numbers to avail themselves of these communication capabilities. According to Musk, the app is being positioned as an “effective global address book,” emphasizing its multifaceted utility.
Beyond the communication enhancements, Musk also elaborated on X’s role as a global address book. This announcement comes on the heels of changes to X’s privacy policy, which now includes the collection of biometric data. However, it has refrained from providing a precise definition of what it deems as “biometric” data. Traditionally, this term encompasses data derived from an individual’s facial features, eyes, and fingerprints. Additionally, reports from Bloomberg indicate that the app intends to gather information concerning users’ employment and educational backgrounds.
The updated privacy policy of X states, “Based on your consent, we may collect and use your biometric information for safety, security, and identification purposes.” This marks a significant expansion in the scope of data collection and utilization on the platform.
As X continues to evolve and expand its offerings, it appears poised to diversify its services well beyond its initial identity as a micro blogging platform. The introduction of video and audio calling, coupled with its positioning as a comprehensive address book, underscores Musk’s ambition to make X an integral part of users’ digital lives. The platform’s growing foray into data collection and utilization also raises important questions about privacy and data security, which will likely be closely scrutinized as these changes take effect.
