What is Clubhouse App and Is It Safe?

In different social media platforms, Clubhouse has attracted a large number of users with its unique audio-centric model. The invite-only app has quickly gained popularity, but its security and privacy practices have also raised questions. For those considering joining the platform, it's crucial to understand what Clubhouse is and how it handles user data.

What is Clubhouse App?

Clubhouse is a voice-based social media app that allows users to participate in real-time audio conversations. Described like a "fusion of podcasts and Twitter," Founded in 2020 by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs Paul Davison and Rohan Seth.

The app's core feature is "Rooms," where users can gather to discuss various topics. These rooms can be:

• Open: Accessible to anyone
• Social: Accessible only to people you follow
• Private: Accessible only to invited users

In these chat rooms, there are three main roles:

• Moderator: The person who creates and manages the chat room
• Speaker: The person with speaking privileges
• Listener: The person who can only listen

A key feature of Clubhouse, is ephemeral nature — conversations aren't recorded or saved, meaning when room closes, conversation will disappear. It started out as an app only for iOS and later expanded to Android devices.

Soaring Popularity

Clubhouse has experienced exponential growth, with its user base exploding in less than a year. This momentum was significantly boosted when high-profile figures like Elon Musk began using the platform. The app's invitation-only model creates exclusivity, making Clubhouse invites a highly sought-after commodity, sometimes fetching over $100.

Clubhouse Security Concerns

Despite its innovative approach to social networking, Clubhouse faces several security and privacy concerns:

1. Data Transmission and Chinese Infrastructure

Research by the Stanford Internet Observatory (SIO) reveals that Clubhouse's backend infrastructure is provided by Shanghai-based Agora Inc. This arrangement raises concerns because:

• User IDs and chatroom IDs are transmitted in plain text, making them vulnerable to interception.
• Metadata from Clubhouse conversations is forwarded to servers hosted in China.
• Under Chinese law, companies can be forced to share data with the government if deemed necessary for national security.

2. Data Leaks and Privacy Issues

In 2021, a major data breach exposed the personal information of approximately one million users. The compromised data included:

• User ID
• Name
• Profile photo
• Username
• Social media account information

Although Clubhouse denied that its systems had been hacked and claimed that the information was public, the incident highlighted its potential vulnerabilities.

3. Lack of Content Moderation

The ephemeral nature of Clubhouse conversations presents the following challenges:

• Content Moderation: Hate speech, harassment, and misinformation can be difficult to detect or prevent from spreading.
• Accountability: Users may post harmful comments, believing that their content will not be saved and therefore face no consequences.
• Limited Reporting Mechanisms: The platform initially lacked robust tools to address problematic content.

4. Contact Sharing Practices

The app has been criticized for encouraging users to share their address books in order to invite contacts. This practice enables Clubhouse to track users' networks, potentially compromising the privacy of users and their contacts.

Clubhouse's Response to Security Concerns

Faced with the backlash, Clubhouse has taken several steps to address security concerns:

• Adding Encryption: The company pledged to implement additional encryption mechanisms to prevent data from being sent to servers located in China.
• Hiring an External Security Firm: Clubhouse pledged to bring in third-party experts to audit and verify its security measures.
• Geographic Restrictions: Due to privacy concerns, the developers initially blocked access for users in China.

How to use Clubhouse safely?

For users using Clubhouse, consider the following security precautions:

1. Manage permissions carefully: Limit access to contact lists and other sensitive data.
2. Use a strong password: Create a unique password for your Clubhouse account.
3. Share carefully: Assume that everything you say may be recorded or shared, regardless of the platform's rules.
4. Update the app regularly: Ensure you have the latest security patches installed.
5. Limit personal information: Be cautious about sharing identifying information in your profile or conversations.

In summary, this article has explored what is Clubhouse app. Through voice interaction, Offers an innovative approach to social networking, fostering authentic conversations and community building. However, its rapid growth has also brought with it various privacy and security concerns, particularly regarding data processing practices and infrastructure dependencies. Hope that developers will optimize these existing issues and fully safeguard user security.