Nothing is a technology company founded by Carl Pei that is gaining ground in the field of mobile telephony. The company recently launched a new update to your Nothing OS operating system which includes a controversial function: recording phone calls without notifying the interlocutor.
According to Pei himself, this feature is designed to "protect users from malicious people and potential scammers." But, this new function raises important questions about privacy and legality.
Is it legal to record calls without consent?
Phone 2 by Nothing.
The new function of “Discreet” call recording is available for Nothing Phone (1), Nothing Phone (2) and Nothing Phone (2a) models after installing Nothing OS 2.5.3 update. By activating the feature on your Nothing phone, you can record phone calls without the other person being notified. Something that could be useful in situations of fraud, threats or risk situations.
However, In many countries and regions, recording calls without consent of both parties is illegal. In Spain, the Spanish Constitution establishes in its article 18.3 the secrecy of communications. However, you must distinguish between your own conversations and those of others.
Recording other people's conversations requires judicial authorization to support the recording. While record your own conversations, that is, those in which one is a voluntary part, whether by telephone or in person, it is legal.
Recording your own conversations can be useful in judicial proceedings where there are contradictory versions. Recordings can be provided as evidence. But, it is possible that the opposing party challenges the authenticity of the recording. Therefore, it must be accompanied by expert evidence that determines its authenticity and that it has not been manipulated.
Because this practice is not legal in all countries, You have to be very careful when using this function and make sure they are not breaking any laws.
Nothing's position contrasts with that of Google, which has fought for years against call recording applications on Android They do not notify both parties. On Pixel devices, for example, when you start recording a call, an audible notification is issued to both parties.
How to install Nothing OS 2.5.3 to record calls
Telephone 2a.
To install the new version of the operating system on your Nothing phone, you must access the settings menu, select “System” and then “System Update”.
In addition to call recording, the Nothing OS 2.5.3 update also includes other items such as new camera and battery widgets, camera performance improvements, and general UI and animation optimizations.