Apple iOS 13 Limits Facebook, WhatsApp VoIP API And Halts Background Activity

Apple reportedly plans to design iOS13 in such a way that popular apps such as Facebook and WhatsaApp will need to redesign how their calling feature functions.

A recently released report stated that iOS 13 will change the way Facebook and WhatsApp behave in the background. Upon the launch of Apple’s latest operating system, the tech giant will restrict the use of PushKit VoIP API.

PushKit VoIP, voice over the internet protocol API that functions by allowing users to receive and send voice calls without the need for telephone circuit transmission but by purely allowing the call to push through using the internet is an app such as Facebook and WhatsApp’s tool in making the internet calling feature possible.

The Facebook and WhatsApp API stays running on the background to ensure that calls can connect faster. However, since the internet call API continues to run in the background, it also has the tendency to do unrelated tasks like collecting user’s data without permission.

Apple’s move to restrict the apps in using the PushKit VoIP API in iOS13 is a part of their continuous move to prevent the third-party apps from accessing as well as collecting user’s data without permission. This way, iPhone and iPad users are assured of their privacy.

As per the report, WhatsApp will likely be most affected by the iOS 13 restriction implementation. The said app was known to use the end to end encryption which primarily depends on the PushKit VoIP API to function well. Sources familiar with the issue said that WhatsApp, as well as internet calling dependent apps, will now have to rebuild their app in such a way that it will function well without the API running on the background.

Facebook, on the other hand, clarified that they are not using PushKit VoIP API to collect user data. They instead assure that the use of the said feature is for them to deliver a world-class, private messaging experience.

A Facebook representative released a statement saying that the iOS 13 PushKit VoIP API restriction that Apple plans to implement is no big deal to the social media app and that they continue to communicate to Apple on the necessary steps to take.