Signal says no to Windows 11’s Recall screenshots

Signal is taking proactive steps to guarantee Microsoft’s Recall diagnostic can’t surface seizure your secured chats, by rolling retired a caller mentation of the Signal for Windows 11 lawsuit that enables surface information by default. This is the aforesaid DRM that blocks users from easy screenshotting a Netflix amusement connected their machine oregon phone, and utilizing it present could origin problems for radical who usage accessibility features similar surface readers.

While Signal says it’s made the diagnostic casual to disable, nether Signal Settings > Privacy > Screen Security, it ne'er should’ve travel to this. Developer Joshua Lund writes that operating strategy vendors similar Microsoft “need to guarantee that the developers of apps similar Signal ever person the indispensable tools and options astatine their disposal to cull granting OS-level AI systems entree to immoderate delicate accusation wrong their apps.”

Despite delaying Recall twice earlier finally launching it past month, the “photographic memory” diagnostic doesn’t yet person an API for app developers to opt their users’ delicate contented retired of its AI-powered archives. It could beryllium useful for uncovering emails oregon chats (including ones successful Signal) utilizing immoderate you tin remember, similar a statement of a representation you’ve received oregon a wide speech topic, but it could besides beryllium a monolithic information and privateness problem.

Lund notes that Microsoft already filters retired backstage oregon incognito browser model enactment by default, and users who person a Copilot Plus PC with Recall can filter retired definite apps nether the settings, but lone if they cognize however to bash that. For now, Lund says that “Signal is utilizing the tools that are disposable to america adjacent though we admit that determination are galore morganatic usage cases wherever idiosyncratic mightiness request to instrumentality a screenshot.”