Bluetooth headphones won't connect unless given access to contacts and call history

Hello all, I bought JBL bluetooth headphones. When I try to connect it to my phone running /e/ it requests permission to access my contacts and call history; if I reject, the bluetooth connection does not complete.

Is there a way to get around this? I don’t want to share my contacts and call history with a headphone set… it makes no sense to me why it would need it.

I was also wondering if it’s possible to “spoof” the requested data somehow. i.e. to create some fake contacts and call history, and then tell /e/ to give permissions to that instead of the real stuff.

It’s not the headphones requiring access to contacts and call history. It’s the proprietary app you use for them. BTW this JBL app has 5 trackers.

Most headphones (like my B&O) work very well without any proprietary app just on plain Bluetooth. You must answer the question why do you use this app, what are it’s advantages and can you live without that?

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Thanks for the reply.

I did not install any app. The request for permissions is presented when I try to do the bluetooth pairing, not when installing an app.

Just bumping this up…

Does anyone know why bluetooth pairing JBL headphones requests permissions to contacts and call history, and how this can be bypassed?

Again, this has nothing to do with the app, which is not installed. This request happens when pairing is requested.

I thought about it. I guess this is because headphones take part in telephone calls and your mobile can’t (or won’t) see if it’s a plain dumb headphone or a more intelligent headset with a microphone (and keys). I guess that some headsets are able to make a call after you spoke a command and named a receiver in the microphone. Then the device must find the number in the contacts. Perhaps a talking interface can also read the call history aloud when you request this.

This is still not great. The ringtones (also for incoming messages) are audible always in the device loudspeaker, not in the bluetooth (or cable) headphones. But then the call is in the headphones. I never understood this.

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