In this Jan. 3, 2019 file photo, the Apple logo is displayed at the Apple store in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Apple has made the group chat function in FaceTime unavailable, Tuesday Jan. 29, 2019, after users said there was a bug that could allow callers to activate another user's microphone remotely. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File) Apple has made the group chat function in FaceTime unavailable after users said there was a bug that could allow callers to activate another user's microphone remotely.
The bug was demonstrated through videos online and reported on this week by tech blogs. Apple's online support page on Tuesday said there was a technical issue with the application and that Group Facetime "is temporarily unavailable."
Reports said the bug in the video chat app could allow an iPhone user calling another iPhone through Group Facetime to hear the audio from the other handset—even if the receiver did not accept the call.
The governor of New York Andrew Cuomo issued a statement warning people about the bug and urging people to disable the app until Apple fixes the issue.
Explore further: iPhone FaceTime bug lets callers eavesdrop
