Social posts blame the iPhone's Live Listen feature for secret eavesdropping. It is an accessibility tool, not spyware, but one setting is worth a quick check.
Social media posts have blamed an iPhone feature called Live Listen for secretly listening in on people. Tom's Guide looked into it and found it is not spyware. It is an accessibility tool. Still, there is one setting worth a quick check, especially if you use AirPods, Beats or hearing aids with your phone.
Apple built Live Listen for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. It turns the iPhone into a remote microphone. The phone picks up sound and sends it to AirPods, Beats or compatible hearing aids. It is meant for tuning in to someone across a noisy cafe or lecture hall. It is not meant to log conversations or create secret transcripts.
The only genuine privacy issue is physical. Bluetooth reaches 10 to 15 metres. That means someone could leave an active phone on a desk and listen in from the next room. Nothing in the report suggests the iPhone is recording or transcribing people on its own.
The alert box above lists the steps to turn off Remote Control. Doing so makes sure the feature cannot be triggered or controlled remotely.
The report does not say how many people have been affected by the scare, or whether Apple has responded to the posts. It only confirms what the feature is for and where the real risk sits.
Live Listen is not spyware, but turning off Remote Control takes seconds and closes the one real gap.
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