macOS Sequoia: Screen recording prompt

Recent reports from 9to5Mac reveal that Apple will now prompt users monthly about apps that are recording their screens. Initially, this prompt was set to appear weekly, but after significant backlash from influential commentators and a flood of feedback filings, Apple adjusted the frequency.

Why this is a problem

Rather than rehashing what others have extensively covered, I’d like to share my perspective on why this change might not sit well with many users, and what it could mean for the broader macOS ecosystem.

Prompt fatigue

One major concern is prompt fatigue. When users are repeatedly asked the same thing, the prompt loses its impact, leading to complacency. Think about terms and conditions or EULAs—we often click through them, barely reading, assuming there’s nothing too detrimental hidden within.

Personally, I only allow four apps to record my screen and audio on my MacBook. I consider myself quite discerning about app permissions.

Developers vs. Apple

However, I know people who use far more apps than I do, each for different purposes. What strikes me as odd is that Apple’s own apps, like QuickTime, which I extensively use for screen capturing, don’t appear on this list. This policy seems to target third-party developers exclusively, exempting Apple’s own apps.

While I understand the need to guard against bad actors, it feels somewhat hypocritical for Apple to exclude itself from such scrutiny, especially with Apple Intelligence on the horizon. How can we be certain that our data isn’t being used in ways we wouldn’t approve of?

The origins of this change

This new implementation, which was notably absent from WWDC presentations, seems to be Apple’s response (in my opinion) to two recently released products that could cause significant privacy concerns: Microsoft Recall and the ChatGPT macOS app.

The Microsoft Recall feature, in particular, faced substantial backlash. Initially seen as a sure thing, it quickly became a contentious feature, moving from a mainstay to an optional, off-by-default tool in insider builds.

Both Recall and the ChatGPT app offer useful capabilities, such as the ability to review past activities or have AI assist with tasks on your screen. While these features are valuable, they also pose potential risks if misused.

Apple’s initial decision to implement a weekly prompt seems like a preemptive move to protect users from apps that could be running in the background, monitoring their screen activity.

Potential solutions

Apple could learn from its own practices, particularly how it handles app ratings. Developers can request prompts as often as they like, but Apple controls how frequently those prompts reach users.

Alternatively, Apple could offer more granular options for prompt frequency, framed as a privacy-first approach with three levels: strict, normal, and relaxed.

• Strict: Weekly prompts for all apps listed under Privacy and Security, with options to approve or deactivate apps that haven’t been used in 14 days. This would appeal to privacy-conscious users.
• Normal: The default setting, with monthly prompts and no automatic deactivation. This balances user safety with convenience.
• Relaxed: No prompts or warnings, similar to the current system in Sonoma. However, selecting this option should come with a warning about potential security risks, akin to discussions around side loading apps on iOS.

Other sub-options

I would also like to see the ability to create a custom privacy plan or add an additional sandbox for third-party apps. For example, if a new app requests screen and audio recording permissions, users could choose to allow it for a limited time—say, one day or seven days—after which the permissions would automatically expire.

Another useful feature would be scheduled review prompts, tied into a broader security report, which could look something like this:

Hey Mark,

Over the last 90 days, you allowed 7 apps access to your screen recording. These were:
- App 1
- App 2
...
- App 7

If you want to review any of these apps, click here to disable access to your screen capturing.

Of course, this could be worded more professionally, but it would align well with Apple’s privacy-centric approach. Similar functionality could be extended to other areas, like Safari’s privacy report.

Lastly, as John Siracusa suggested in APT #600, a centralised app that tracks all notifications over the history of your device would be an excellent addition. It doesn’t have to be complex—just a simple tool to review what notifications you received, when, and what actions were taken.

Final thoughts

While I see some benefits to what Apple is trying to achieve, their approach feels heavy-handed. The shift from weekly to monthly prompts, even in this beta phase, feels like a repeat of Microsoft Recall. It’s hard not to think of the old Apple vs. Vista commercial where Apple mocked Vista’s overbearing UAC prompts. How the tables have turned...

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