Signal has decided to block the functionality of the new Windows Recall feature, responding to concerns about privacy. Windows Recall is a prominent and controversial aspect of the Windows operating system, especially on machines equipped with enhanced “Copilot+” capabilities. This feature captures screenshots at short intervals and allows users to sift through their activity history. While it harnesses interesting technology, it poses significant privacy risks, prompting Microsoft to postpone its launch for nearly a year.
In the latest Windows app version, attempts to record activities using Windows Recall result in a blank black screen, akin to the digital rights management (DRM) systems used by streaming services like Netflix. Signal has effectively utilized the built-in functionalities of Windows and Recall to prevent the recording of its activity by default. Developers have the ability to toggle this DRM feature, thereby safeguarding their applications. Joshua Lund, a developer at Signal, explained, “Apps like Signal have essentially no control over what content Recall is able to capture, and implementing ‘DRM’ that works for you (not against you) is the best choice that we had.”
However, the situation is complex. Accessibility tools, like magnifiers and text-to-speech readers, depend on similar screenshot capabilities to assist users with visual impairments. To address this, Signal offers an option to disable the screen security feature through its settings. Users can turn off this feature, but they must confirm their choice, which would then allow Windows Recall to record Signal’s activities just like any other application.
In an assertive announcement, Lund didn’t hold back his criticism of Microsoft. He remarked that the idea of taking screenshots every few seconds seems like a drastic approach poorly conceived by a low-parameter LLM tasked with quickly adding AI features for investor approval. He further emphasized that it is ultimately Microsoft’s responsibility to maintain a platform conducive to privacy-focused applications like Signal; otherwise, they may have to reconsider their support for those platforms in the future.