Signal has recently introduced a significant update to its Windows app, aimed at enhancing user privacy by preventing Microsoft’s Recall feature from capturing screenshots of secure conversations. This new version of Signal for Windows 11 activates screen security by default, employing a digital rights management (DRM) approach similar to that used by streaming services like Netflix to protect their content.
While this move is designed to bolster security, it raises concerns for users who rely on accessibility features, such as screen readers. Signal acknowledges that while the feature can be easily disabled through the app’s settings—found under Signal Settings > Privacy > Screen Security—this situation should not have arisen in the first place.
Developer Joshua Lund has voiced his concerns regarding the limitations imposed by operating system vendors like Microsoft. He emphasizes the necessity for app developers to have access to tools that allow them to safeguard sensitive information from OS-level AI systems. Despite the challenges, Signal is navigating the available options to protect user privacy, even as it recognizes the legitimate need for users to take screenshots in certain scenarios.
Recall, which was delayed twice before its launch last month, is designed to enhance productivity by enabling users to retrieve information based on memory cues, such as descriptions of images or general conversation topics. However, it currently lacks an API that would allow app developers to exclude sensitive content from its AI-driven archives, posing potential risks to user privacy and security.
Lund also points out that while Microsoft has implemented measures to filter out activities from private or incognito browser windows, users with a Copilot Plus PC can adjust settings to filter out specific applications. However, this requires a level of awareness and technical knowledge that not all users may possess.
In the meantime, Signal continues to adapt to the evolving landscape of digital privacy, utilizing the tools at its disposal while advocating for better support from operating system developers to protect user data effectively.
