Why FB Messenger video still on (green light), when off in UI?
In FB Messenger (I happen to be using Mac at the time). During group call why is the mac green light still on indicating feed is still on when turned off in the ui?
This also happens to me when using Zoom, Skype and WhatsApp. It is also very common when I start a video call using a web browser (Google Meet, Zoom Web, Skype Web). The camera indicator (green light) goes off only after force-quitting the web browser or desktop application. I don’t think there is anything malicious there, probably a bug somewhere in the code failing to release the camera feed or missing an event notifying the system to close the stream. Even FaceTime fails to stop the camera feed from time to time forcing me to quit the entire app, so it is not just Facebook Messenger.
The only non malicious answer I can think of is that having the camera on would somehow make joining a video call faster. But really it should absolutely be off when not very clearly in use by the app.
I do not mind so much if camera turns on when I am about to join (or right before joining).
The issue is "while joined in the call" I turned off the camera via UI), which indicates to all users that I have muted the Video. However, it appears to be clear the camera feed is still on (e.g. indicated by green light / hardware).
In other video call apps (e.g. Google Meet, Zoom), it turns off as expected. But in FB Messenger this is not the case and only turns off once you disconnect from call.
I know that the virtual co-working rooms at complice.co/rooms/ has a similar issue, though the light goes off when you navigate away from the page.
The FAQ isn't very illuminating, saying:
> In the coworking rooms, when I pause my video, why does my webcam light stay on?
> Good question. The system that I used is set up that way by default, for... reasons. It definitely isn't surreptitiously sending your video to anyone. It's sending blackness (and a note that says "I'm not actually sending video"). But yeah, unfortunately you have to reload the page if you want to make the light go away. Somewhere on a long todo-list is making the Pause button actually stop the webcam.
Easy fix: a piece of tape over your camera, that you only remove when you actually want to display yourself (and your surroundings) to the world.
I think it would be a problem if it were the other way round.
I noticed this today for the first time.
because they watchin you duh!