What? Where did you get that from?

I suspect it could be due to Japan requiring that cameras play a sound when taking a photo or video. Here's some background:

https://japandaily.jp/why-you-cant-turn-off-the-camera-shutt...

> Japan’s requirement for an audible camera shutter sound isn’t just a quirky design decision — it’s a deliberate policy meant to prevent secret photography.

Looks like it will be an infrared camera, so perhaps that changes the requirement?

Doesn't that just make it worse? It can't see color, but instead it can potentially see through thin clothing

That law regulates captured images. It doesn't require continuous shutter sounds while the phone is processing and even displaying the camera input - only once an image is captured. It seems unlikely that the AirPods will allow users to capture IR images that are used for gestural control and environmental awareness for system functions.

The law doesn't make a distinction for what the AirPod's internal processing does. Infrared definitely violates people's privacy and dignity.

Is there a shutter sound when someone uses FaceID? That uses infrared to capture the users face.

Of course not

But that’s unrelated to the shutter sound law

>I suspect it could be due to Japan requiring that cameras play a sound when taking a photo or video.

That depends on what "taking a photo or video" means. If it only covers making a recording, then it won't apply to airpods. The same applies for faceID for instance, I doubt japanese iPhones are making shutter sounds everytime you pull out your phone, even though it's obviously using the camera.

A shutter sound I kinda get, that is simple to implement, but how is a video audio signal supposed to work?

This