Signal has quietly, but firmly, declared obedience to the Windows Recall feature. The new ‘screensaver’ option in the desktop app prevents Windows from taking screenshots of chat screens – even when Recall is running in the background and using the power of local AI to analyse the image.
Recall, Microsoft’s experimental feature for Copilot+ computers, has been controversial from the start. The idea of the operating system taking regular screenshots of everything the user sees on the screen and indexing them with AI has hit resistance from both users and privacy experts. Microsoft, in an attempt to limit the image damage, introduced an option to filter ‘sensitive content’ and to disable Recall by default – but it’s still not enough.
Signal went one step further. It didn’t wait for Microsofts to declare chats ‘vulnerable’. It secured the app itself against any screenshots. This is an example not only of technological foresight, but also of an ethical stance. For Signal users, this is a tangible added value: the reassurance that their chats are their own, regardless of system features.
This is also an important signal to the market. Signal is consolidating its position as a ‘zero compromise’ app, putting privacy above all else. In a world where even the browser can be a potential source of data leakage, an app that proactively counters content logging builds trust and loyalty.
From a technical point of view, Signal’s decision also demonstrates the growing role of application developers in defining the boundaries of operating systems. Recall is not an integrated module that nobody has control over – and this is what sets the precedent.
If Recall is to survive, Microsoft will need to show more humility towards user privacy. In the meantime, this Signal is a reminder that privacy is not just an option – it’s a commitment.
