Privacy Aware Signal Messaging Service blindfolds the eyes of the newly returned Windows Remply, Microsoft’s AI-powered feature that can do anything on your computer every few seconds to enable your PC to provide your PC with the “photo memory” you never asked for.
In a blog post Wednesday, Signal announced the new “Screen Security” feature for its Windows 11 app, so when it tries to take your work, the screenshot will appear as a black screen, just like what happens if you try to get screenshots of digital rights-managed content from Netflix, etc.
Last year, Microsoft withdrew its objection to security and privacy issues from New Copilot Plus PCs, which continued to haunt it in the months that followed as Microsoft passed the revision work. Neither the signal nor Microsoft responded to a request for comment on the matter.
The signal is not waiting for a recall
Signal’s new recall security features do have some potential drawbacks. The blog post points out that screenshots may be required and that certain accessibility software such as ScreenReaders may not work properly as a result.
Fortunately, the feature is both easy to disable and difficult to accidentally disable as it always displays a warning and requires confirmation to turn off the feature. Screen Security only works on enabled local computers, meaning it won’t prevent you from taking screenshots with others you chat with.
The blog post says the recall does not provide controls for app developers to easily protect their users’ privacy, so blocking screenshots with DRM Switch is “the best choice we have”.
Call the OS vendor
The Signal post details how applications such as Signal need to prioritize privacy by default and that operating system manufacturers also need to assume responsibility. In particular, it has noticed the advent of proxy AI software and needs to allow application developers to block OS-level AI from accessing sensitive user data.
“Ultimately, companies like Microsoft make sure that their platforms remain the right foundation for privacy applications like signals,” the blog post said. “If this stops, we will have to stop supporting these platforms.”
New screen security is rolling out, enabled by default for those running Windows 11.
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