Elon Musk launched audio and video calling on X, the everything app, last week. This feature is turned on by default, exposing your IP address to anyone you talk to, and it can be confusing to limit who can call you.
X announced the new feature of audio and video calling, available to all users, on its official news account last Wednesday.
We investigated the calling feature in X by analyzing its official help center page and conducting tests to understand its functionality and associated risks.
While an IP address may not seem critical, it can reveal a user’s location and online activities, posing a threat to high-risk users.
The audio and video calling feature is located within the Messages section of the X app, with a phone icon appearing in the top right corner on both iOS and Android versions.
A screenshot of X’s audio and video calling feature on iOS. Image Credits: TechCrunch
Call functionality is enabled by default in the X app, limited to in-app calls as the browser version does not support it yet.
Calls are peer-to-peer by default, sharing participants’ IP addresses for direct connection, a common practice in messaging apps like FaceTime, WhatsApp, and others.
If you wish to hide your IP address, you can enable “Enhanced call privacy” in X’s Message settings to mask your IP during calls.
