Arattai Messaging App: Features, Privacy, and What It Accesses on Your Phone
India’s Arattai messaging app offers a host of features for chats and calls, similar to WhatsApp—but what about user privacy?
Arattai, while not exactly new, has recently gained attention as part of the Indian government’s push for local products. WhatsApp has long been the default messaging app for millions in India, but the growing preference for homegrown alternatives has brought Zoho’s Arattai into the spotlight.
This isn’t the first platform to try competing with WhatsApp, but the team behind Arattai seems committed to building a sustainable platform. While we’ve examined various aspects of the app, questions remain about user privacy and the permissions it requires. Here’s a detailed look at the security features and access requirements of Arattai.
Arattai on Android and iOS: Device Access
The Arattai app is available on both Android and iOS. It requires Android version 6.0 or later and iOS 14 or higher. The company promises that Arattai will eventually work smoothly on low-end phones, though this may roll out gradually.
Here’s what the app accesses on your device:
On Android:
- Camera: Take pictures and record videos
- Contacts: Read, modify, and access accounts on the device
- Location: Approximate and precise location
- Microphone: Record audio
- Telephone: Call phone numbers directly, read phone status and identity
- Storage: Modify or delete contents
- Other permissions: Read selected images and videos, prevent phone from sleeping, receive data from the internet, connect to paired Bluetooth devices, access “Do Not Disturb,” and more
On iPhone:
- User ID
- Device ID
- Contact info: Name, phone number
- Contacts
As the list shows, Arattai accesses a significant portion of your phone’s features. However, most of these permissions are common across messaging apps and aren’t unusual for users considering a switch.
Privacy and Security
Arattai’s support team states that all calls on the app are end-to-end encrypted. However, the same terminology isn’t mentioned for messages, which raises concerns. Lack of chat encryption is a significant issue and may discourage some users from signing up.
The company also highlights that being a “Made in India” app means all data is stored domestically, with conversations and metadata encrypted in storage. While this offers some reassurance, users will likely be looking for more clarity on message encryption in the near future.
