Signal has released a new version of its desktop app for Windows 11 users that prevents Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature from taking screenshots of secured chats on the end-to-end encrypted messaging platform.
The new version of Signal for Windows 11 has Screen Security, which means that nothing will appear when users attempt to take a screenshot of their Signal chats using the Recall feature that is available in Copilot+ PCs.
This setting is automatically enabled by default, Joshua Lund, a developer at Signal, said in a blog post published on Wednesday, May 21. “Although Microsoft made several adjustments over the past twelve months in response to critical feedback, the revamped version of Recall still places any content that’s displayed within privacy-preserving apps like Signal at risk,” Lund said.
“As a result, we are enabling an extra layer of protection by default on Windows 11 in order to help maintain the security of Signal Desktop on that platform even though it introduces some usability trade-offs. Microsoft has simply given us no other option,” he added.
Microsoft’s Recall feature was launched last month after being delayed twice. The AI agent-driven feature takes continuous screenshots of the computer screen every few seconds and stores them in an easily searchable database. Recall essentially acts as a sort of “photographic memory” for users who may want to revisit something they saw on their computer screen like an email or website based on the description of a picture or a broad conversation topic.
Soon after it was announced in May last year, Microsoft had to roll back the feature due to intense backlash over privacy and security concerns. The revamped version of Recall is now an opt-in setting with an encrypted database and sensitive data filter.
However, the changes appear to have not convinced Signal. The messaging platform’s move highlights a growing divide between developers and operating system vendors like Microsoft over OS-level AI systems having access to sensitive information within apps.
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How it works
Screen Security in the Windows 11 version of Signal is based on Digital Rights Management (DRM), which is the same underlying technology that makes it harder for users to screenshot Netflix content, for instance, on their devices.
To be sure, Signal’s trick to block Recall snapshots may not be breaking any rules. The platform has pointed out that Microsoft’s official developer document itself notes the usage of DRM on an app window will ensure that “content won’t show up in Recall or any other screenshot application.”
Signal has also acknowledged that there could be some legitimate use cases of taking a screenshot. “For example, some accessibility software (such as screen readers or magnification tools for people who are visually impaired) may not function correctly otherwise,” it said.
The Screen Security feature can also be disabled by going to Signal Settings > Privacy > Screen Security. However, turning off Screen Security in Signal Desktop on Windows 11 will always display a warning and require confirmation in order to continue, it added.
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It also clarified that Screen Security on a user’s local computer will not prevent users on the other end of the chat from taking screenshots of the messages. “If you are communicating with someone who uses a screen reader on macOS or Linux, for example, keeping screen security enabled on your side won’t prevent them from taking screenshots or adversely affect any accessibility software they may be using,” Signal said.
Earlier this year, the messaging platform was at the centre of a major political controversy after a journalist from The Atlantic became privy to the US government’s top-secret missile strike plans by accidentally being added to a Signal group chat.
