According to CNET, Neon’s controversial call recording app has returned to both iOS and Google Play stores after disappearing in September amid security flaws and privacy concerns. The app originally promised to pay users for recording their phone calls to train AI models, but TechCrunch discovered a security vulnerability that allowed access to other users’ calls and metadata. Founder Alex Kiam claims the company addressed security issues by engaging three cybersecurity firms and hiring a contractor as CTO, though he provided few details about the fixes. The new version now requires both call participants to have the app installed, paying 30 cents per minute up to $30 through November 6, though regular rates remain unclear. Current user reviews show ratings as low as 2.2 stars with complaints about referral payments dropping to $1 and call rates potentially falling to 5 cents per minute.
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The security rollercoaster
Here’s the thing about Neon’s security claims – they’re pretty vague. The company says they “engaged with” three cybersecurity firms and hired some mystery CTO from “a reasonably large tech company.” But what does that actually mean? They’re not naming names, not detailing the specific fixes, and honestly, after that massive security hole where anyone could access other people’s call recordings, you’d think they’d be more transparent. I mean, we’re talking about people’s private conversations here. The fact that they won’t elaborate on how they fixed the underlying issue doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.
The payment puzzle
Now let’s talk about the money, because that’s supposedly the whole point. The current 30-cent-per-minute rate sounds decent until you realize it’s basically a limited-time promotion ending November 6. After that? Nobody knows. Kiam won’t say what the regular rates will be, and user reviews suggest they could drop to as low as 5 cents per minute. And referral payments have apparently crashed from $30 to maybe $1. So basically, they’re being deliberately opaque about the long-term economics. That’s a red flag for anyone thinking this might be a sustainable side hustle.
Privacy and legal tightrope
The legal and ethical questions here are massive. Even though Neon now requires both parties to have the app, their terms of service grant them incredibly broad rights to “publicly display, reproduce and distribute call recordings in any media formats and through any media channels.” Privacy experts warn that even “anonymized” data can often be de-anonymized with modern AI tools. And let’s be real – how many people actually read those terms before signing up? You’re essentially giving a company permission to do whatever they want with recordings of your most personal conversations.
The AI training gold rush
What’s really driving this is the insane hunger for real conversational data to train AI models. Companies are desperate for natural human dialogue, and they’re willing to pay for it. But is selling your conversations worth the risk? Basically, you’re monetizing your privacy, and the payout seems to be shrinking while the risks remain substantial. The whole setup feels like it’s designed to capitalize on people’s financial anxiety while downplaying the potential consequences. Given the rocky launch, security issues, and payment uncertainties, I’d think twice before installing this thing on my phone.
