A new app that promises to pay people for recordings of their phone calls, which are then used to train AI models, has been disabled after a major security flaw was reported.
Neon is still in the top 10 of iOS free app downloads, but after TechCrunch reported Thursday about a security flaw that the news site found in the service, its servers have apparently been made unavailable to users.
The app can still be downloaded, but it's no longer functioning. It's unclear whether the service will return or how long it will take.
Emails to Neon Mobile, the company behind the app, have not been returned.
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According to TechCrunch, a flaw in the app allowed people to access calls from other users, transcripts and metadata about calls. The company notified Neon users that it was pausing the service but did not explicitly mention why, TechCrunch said.
Before the app was disabled, a legal expert warned about trouble it might cause, in addition to potential security flaws.
David Hoppe, the founder and managing partner of Gamma Law, which advises clients on thorny technological issues, told CNET that because some states have consent rules on recording phone calls, people using Neon should be very careful or avoid it entirely. Without certainty of its legality, he warned, "do not use this app."
Cash for calls
Neon is still available (at least for the time being) on iOS and Android. The company records users' outgoing phone calls and pays them up to $30 a day for regular calls or 30 cents a minute if the call is to another Neon user. Calls to non-Neon users pay 15 cents a minute. The app also offers $30 for referrals.
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