Clubhouse Audio App Presents Novel Features But Also Security Concerns

As our physically distanced and socially deprived environment continues, the new social platform Clubhouse, known for its distinct hybrid conference call and live podcast approach, is poised to grow quickly and shift social networking in a new direction. Yet with its rise in popularity, privacy concerns are also growing.

Clubhouse, established in March 2020 by Bay Area entrepreneurs Paul Davison and Rohan Seth, is used by more than 10 million users per week. The app is described by its developer, Alpha Exploration Co., as “a new type of social network based on voice—where people around the world come together to talk, listen, and learn from each other in real-time.”

Upon launch, Clubhouse prompts users to select interests or "clubs" such as tech, world affairs, identity, and languages. Within the application, "clubs" house "rooms" where live conversations take place. Speakers in the "rooms" are said to be on “stage” as panelists. While scrolling through the feed of "rooms," users are in the "hallway."

Room topics range from conversations with "Judas and Black Messiah's" film director, Shaka King, to how to become a millionaire real estate investor, to more existential topics such as “Why are we really here on earth?.” Similar to the Zoom video conferencing platform, Clubhouse has a "raised hand" feature, mute and unmute features, and at times, also abrupt entries and exits common virtual meetings.

Currently, there’s an exclusive element that makes Clubhouse attractive. It’s only available to iOs users and you can only access the network if you’re invited by an app member. So current users are actually using a beta version. The invites are so coveted that upon printing this article, invitations were going for $99 on eBay.

Furthermore, Clubhouse chats, aim to create ephemeral moments that disappear once the conversation ends, and to engage the live audience by bringing participants into the conversation—think Facebook comments in audio and real-time.

Yet, while Clubhouse presents a lot of alluring features; security, privacy, and harassment concerns are also widespread. In recent weeks, the Stanford University's Internet Observatory confirmed that the app transmitted user information and audio to a Shanghai-based software provider used by Clubhouse; raising concerns about the possibility of the Chinese government getting access to this information.

Marisa Bojiuc, a journalism student at SMC, hasn't tried out Clubhouse but compared the security concerns facing the app to those facing students learning in a virtual environment.

“We have to be aware of the privacy that comes with apps and networks like these, for example, our classes at Santa Monica College. It's wonderful that they're online but I would be curious to learn more about the privacy that is ensured to students in our classes, you know, can anyone just take screenshots and record our classes?,” said Bojiuc.

Although Clubhouse rules indicate that users are not allowed to "transcribe, record, or otherwise reproduce and/or share" conversations, a recent room featuring Elon Musk is now available on YouTube. A couple of days ago, several news organizations, including Inc., reported that Clubhouse is recording room conversations. They also raised concerns about the app's intrusive user invitation system which forces users to share their entire phone contact list with the platform.

In response to security concerns, the Clubhouse SIO team responded in a statement sent to the Stanford University's Internet Observatory: "With the help of researchers at the Stanford Internet Observatory, we have identified a few areas where we can further strengthen our data protection." Stanford did not verify Clubhouses' statement.

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