Is Google Duo Safe For Private Video Calling?

Rob Leung

Google Duo is Google’s new video calling app. It was created to provide a more accessible and private video call experience for users.

Video calls are all the rage among millennials, but it has some serious safety concerns that you should know about before downloading it.

Read on to find out if is Google Duo safe for private video calling or not!

Is Google Duo Safe For Private Video Calling

What is Google Duo?

Google Duo is Google’s new video calling app. It was created to provide a more accessible and private video call experience for users.

It works on both Android devices and iOS devices. Not only that, but it is also free to use. Google says that it has been built entirely from the ground up with simplicity in mind.

The Duo is a great way to communicate with friends and family who live far away. So you can use this app without any extra steps or complex menus.

Just pick up your phone and start talking!

How Does Google Duo Work?

It works just like any other video chat app that lets you video chat with someone else using your phone. It’s similar to FaceTime on iOS devices and Skype on Windows Phone devices.

You can use Duo to talk to friends and family who also have the app installed on their phones.

It can convert a voice call into a live video feed, so you can see who you’re talking to, and you don’t need extra apps or software for its functionality.

It all comes built-in. Signal strength on the phone connection will also affect how well Duo performs. This means that if your internet connections speeds are low, the quality of video may not be as good as it otherwise would have been with high-speed connections.

Users can also make video calls by tapping a contact list in their Android address book or looking for them in Google Hangouts before they start talking!

Benefits of Using Google Duo Over Skype or Facetime

There are several benefits that Duo offers over Skype or FaceTime. Google says the app has been built entirely from the ground up with simplicity in mind so that you can use Duo without any extra steps or complex menus. Just pick up your phone and start talking!

  • The Duo is more private than other video call apps because it’s end-to-end encrypted (just like WhatsApp), which means only those on either side of the conversation will be able to see what happens during it.
  • It works on both Android and iOS devices, which is a plus for users who have more than one of the two types of phone.
  • Duo automatically backs up video messages & calls to your Pixel, Nexus, or Google Photos account, so you’ll never lose any precious memories! This also means that if there are any issues with cellular coverage during the call, Duo will switch seamlessly over to Wi-Fi, but be aware that this can lead to slower uploads because it’s uploading from an unstable connection.
  • The app itself is free, although you may incur data charges depending on how much mobile data you use while using Duo; just like other apps such as FaceTime, this isn’t something that Google controls.
  • It is available to download on iOS and Android devices, so you don’t need third-party apps like FaceTime or Skype.
  • It does not require an account because the call itself takes place anonymously, which has many benefits, including no data being gathered about your video calls. Furthermore, it’s entirely up to you what information you share with others during Google Duo conversations!
  • It works flawlessly on mobile phones in terms of usability thanks to its intuitive design that makes it easy for users to start video chats without any additional steps required compared to other video calling services such as Skype.
  • It also works on both a desktop browser and mobile web browsers, so you can call your friends from anywhere as long as they’re available to talk.
  • Google Duo also allows you to send voice messages, which is ideal for those who are not available but still want contact with their friends.
  • It has end-to-end encryption that’s just like WhatsApp, so only the people on either side of a conversation will be able to see what happens during the call.
  • It also allows you to record and send audio files to the person on the other end of your video call or for group video chats with up to six people.
  • Google Duo allows you to switch between accounts to have video calls with multiple Google accounts simultaneously, which means it’s easy to keep in contact with different people and never get confused about who is on the other end of the call.
  • It also allows you to switch between devices to manage your video calls from more than one device at the same time, and it won’t matter which of those devices is a desktop or mobile device.
  • Google Duo offers the ability to share photos, videos, and files during your video calls with other Duo users.
  • It does not have any distracting advertisements displayed on top of a conversation window or in-between conversations, which is another reason it’s more private than other apps like Skype because there’s nothing to distract from the conversation.

Drawbacks of Using Duo For Video Calling

  • Google Duo provides no way to reject a video call with a message, which is not ideal if you want to avoid calls from certain people or do not want others seeing the notification that they tried calling.
  • It provides no way to accept a video call without video, which can be an issue if you want privacy during your Google Duo conversations.
  • It does not offer the ability to stream a live event such as sports or lectures, which means it’s more limited than other apps like Facebook Live and Periscope in terms of its video calling feature.
  • Google Duo had some Wi-Fi connectivity issues in testing, for example, if the video call is interrupted by a bad signal and continues to play without resolution, or it freezes.

Google Duo

Is Google Duo Safe To Use For Private Video Chats With Friends, Family, And Loved Ones

Google Duo is safe to use for private video chats with friends, family, and loved ones. Google’s newest app comes equipped with features like Knock Knock, which lets you see who’s on the other end of a call before picking up

It also has Face-Matching technology, so it knows when you’re looking at your phone (and can turn the screen off if not) and Google Assistant built-in.

Google Duo has been tested by millions of people from all around the world without any security issue being found.

It uses Google’s most substantial level of security for video and audio calls, including an industry-leading end-to-end encryption technology.

Google Duo encrypts video and voice calls to keep your data safe from hackers, and Google does not store any call or message history on its servers.

Duo offers a live preview of who is calling you. You will know if you want to answer the call before picking up the video call. If someone unknown calls you, then Duo might have a way to block them and keep your number safe.

Conclusion

The benefits and drawbacks of using Google Duo for video chats are clear, but the question remains. Is Google Duo Safe For Private Video Calling?

Yes!

Google has been in business since 1998 with a track record that includes over hundreds of million satisfied users on their search engine alone.

It’s worth giving them the benefit of the doubt when considering privacy issues with any other product they offer as well, including Duo.

You can download Google Duo for free from your device’s Play Store or App Store.

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