If you’ve ever noticed your battery draining abnormally quickly when using the Facebook or Messenger app on your iPhone, it might not be a coincidence. According to a former metadata specialist, the company has the ability to secretly drain users’ Android and iPhone batteries as part of its internal app testing.
In an interview with the New York Post, George Hayward claims he was fired last November for refusing to participate in “negative tests” while working on the Messanger app. According to QASource, negative testing allows developers to “compare expected output to incorrect output” by revealing how an application reacts to invalid data. In the case of Facebook, negative tests could be used to see how certain features work or how quickly messages load when the batteries drain faster than expected.
Hayward, who filed a lawsuit but later withdrew it due to an arbitration requirement, said the practice “could harm someone” by draining its battery without warning. Hayward does not say how many people may have been affected by the negative tests or if the Messenger tests have already moved out of beta. However, Hayward told the Post that he received an internal training document titled “How to Run Reflective Negative Tests,” which included examples of ongoing battery drain experiments. He then claims he was fired after three years with the company for refusing to participate in testing.
Facebook apps have long been accused of causing iPhone battery drain. This Reddit thread from 2020 that shows the Messenger app using more battery than PUBG Mobile is just one example among many.
The report does not specify what the next steps in the lawsuit are or whether Facebook will be compelled to respond. Hayward’s attorney argues that his client maintains the allegations of the “clearly illegal” practice.