Elon Musk, the CEO of X (formerly known as Twitter), announced that the social network will soon allow users to make voice and video calls. However, Musk did not specify when these features will be available. The platform aims to make voice and video calls accessible on Apple and Android devices, as well as on computers, without the need for phone numbers.

In addition to the call features, X has updated its privacy policies. The new policies, effective from September 29, will allow the collection of biometric data and employment history, among other information. It is not mentioned what specific biometric information will be collected, but examples include fingerprints and facial recognition.

Other social media platforms, such as Meta (owner of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram) and Snapchat, already offer voice and video calls. This move by X is seen as an acknowledgement of the existing trend among social networks.

Experts and privacy advocates have raised concerns about the increasing collection of personal data by social networks for targeted advertising purposes. In the past, Facebook faced a privacy lawsuit and settled for $650 million due to the alleged use of biometric data without user consent.

For users in the European Union, X has also introduced a reporting tool for posts and advertisements that may violate new regulations known as the Digital Services Act (DSA). This feature is exclusive to EU users, as the DSA rules do not apply outside of the EU.

Overall, the introduction of voice and video calls on X and the updated privacy policies reflect the ongoing trend of social networks collecting personal data, which raises privacy concerns for users.