Signal Encrypted Messenger Rolling Out New Face-Blurring Tool for Shared Images

[MacRumors]

Encrypted messaging app Signal is rolling out a new face-blurring feature that automatically locates and blurs faces in images shared over the platform.

In a blog post announcing the update, Signal co-founder Moxie Marlinspike explained that the tool was a response to a surge in traffic, spurred by ongoing protests around the world against racism and poice brutality.

Many of the people and groups who are organizing for that change are using Signal to communicate, and we're working hard to keep up with the increased traffic. We've also been working to figure out additional ways we can support everyone in the street right now.

One immediate thing seems clear: 2020 is a pretty good year to cover your face.

The latest version of Signal for Android and iOS introduces a new blur feature in the image editor that can help protect the privacy of the people in the photos you share. Now it's easy to give every face a hiding place, or draw a fuzzy trace over something you want to erase. Simply tap on the new blur tool icon to get started.

According to Marlinspike, all processing involved in the new blur feature happens locally on the device to maintain privacy. He also cautions that the feature isn't perfect, and won't detect every face all of the time. To compensate for these flaws, Signal's image editor also includes an option to manually obscure faces and other areas of a photo with a blur brush.

Since May 25, Signal has been setting daily download records in the U.S., according to Apptopia (via Recode). The encrypted chat app was the eighth most downloaded social networking app on Tuesday, for example, and ranked around the top 100 for all apps.

Signal Private Messenger is a free download [Direct Link] for iPhone and iPad available on the App Store.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Signal Encrypted Messenger Rolling Out New Face-Blurring Tool for Shared Images

 

[A MacBook lover]

Haha how will this help? To shield criminals and Antifa agitators?


Yeah I’m sure the one person who uses this will really make the difference in an era of surveillance.

 

[nbuubu]

Is providing cover to people breaking the law now a virtue worthy of signalling?

(pun intended)

Are peaceful protesters seriously worried about being identified when there are drones in the sky and cameras on every corner and almost everyone supports the protests? Why do people need to shield their identities in public?

I'm really confused why this feature is needed right now / worthy of a "look at us" blog post.

 

[A MacBook lover]

Is providing cover to people breaking the law now a virtue worthy of signalling?

(pun intended)

Are peaceful protesters seriously worried about being identified when there are drones in the sky and cameras on every corner and almost everyone supports the protests? Why do people need to shield their identities in public?

I'm really confused why this feature is needed right now / worthy of a "look at us" blog post.

One goal. Fear.

 

[Caliber26]

Rioters, looters, and vandals don’t deserve an iota of privacy. Expose those criminals, I say.

 

[yurc]

Japanese always do this things when picture they taken contain strangers, even manually before posting. Mostly on Twitter though. Same thing like plate cars, ticket number, etc.

 

[1applerules1]

What a nice way to help Antifa terrorists.

 

[robinp]

It’s interesting that a simple image editing feature — something easily achieved in photoshop and many other apps — requires a political warning at the bottom of the post.

And then lo and behold, immediately there are really dumb comments about how bad this is or how it is no use. It can’t be both.

But image editing features are useful. And privacy is important.

You may not like people currently wanting privacy, but one day it might be you.

New features are good. People can choose whether to use them or not. If it is of no use to you then fine. If it is helpful to others then great.

 

[Futurix]

What a nice way to help Antifa.

The more that can be done to help people who are anti-FASCISM, the better. It boggles my mind that US president seemingly succeeded in making fascists / nazis seem normal and victims.

 

[CJM]

What a nice way to help Antifa.

Hurry up and split your country in two.

 

[asiga]

I wish this could be enabled in the iOS Photos app, because there's no option to disable automatic people recognition in photos nor to disabling the disgusting automatic memories. If you could have this in all your photos, it would be great.

 

[nylonsteel]

i'm for this feature

 

[itsmilo]

Of course Americans [on here] are losing their damn mind over this, when it’s a general feature for anyone. Guess what, in some countries it’s already illegal to show the face of children in the news. And I am all for it!

 

[agsystems]

I don't use Signal but the app does far better job than others I've seen in the app store - I'll keep it in case I need it.

 

[blackcrayon]

Haha how will this help? To shield criminals and Antifa agitators?


Yeah I’m sure the one person who uses this will really make the difference in an era of surveillance.

To shield peaceful protesters from people (like you?) who would assume they're criminals and potentially go after them or their families.

 

[calstanford]

Hurry up and split your country in two.

It would be better for everyone, the whole world included.

 

[Sasparilla]

Nice to see this feature being added and that Signal is doing well on the download list - its a great app.

 

[jimbobb24]

The more that can be done to help people who are anti-FASCISM, the better. It boggles my mind that US president seemingly succeeded in making fascists / nazis seem normal and victims.

If I say I am “anti-fascism” and then dress up in black clothes and cover my face and go start riots ... what I call myself is irrelevant. I would be a fascist. Most Americans are not so dumb that we believe there has been an outbreak of fascism that requires a bunch of browncoats running around blowing stuff up. These are just terrorists. They can make their motto “don’t be evil” but if they do evil it doesn’t matter. Their actions say terrorism. They look like terrorists. They are terrorists.

The president doesn’t have to do anything. Average Americans understand that free elections with minor changes in policy do not suddenly transform the govt from a free democracy to fascism. The problem for ANTIFA is they are cosplaying what their ideology teaches not reality. In reality there are not enough “Nazis” in the US to fill a high school gymnasiums so when ANTIFA says they are fighting Nazis normal Americans just roll our eyes and laugh and feel bad for the people ANTIFA terrorizes.

 

[WannaGoMac]

What would be really helpful is an easy way to backup and restore to new iOS device

 

[imnotthewalrus]

This is a good feature and I’m all for it. Not every picture taken is of a protest.

 

[superlawyer15]

Why blur your face if you aren’t doing anything wrong?

 

[Capeto]

This is why you want to blur the faces of those involved in protests and activism, even when it’s peaceful:

Deaths of six men tied to Ferguson protests alarm activists

The six deaths drew attention on social media and speculation among activists that something sinister was at play.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Airforcekid]

What a nice way to help Antifa.

While I agree and it will make my job harder Signal is the only authorized communication app for some military units its a double edged sword. Its my primary messaging app and many other government employees use it as well.

 

[Capeto]

Why blur your face if you aren’t doing anything wrong?

Why would the FBI send a letter to Martin Luther King Jr. telling him to commit suicide if Dr. King did nothing wrong?

Edit: Source

 

[agsystems]

Why blur your face if you aren’t doing anything wrong?

the idea is to blur other people that don't need (or want) to be included in your social media post or maybe they are children you don't want there - I see dozens of uses for this feature IF you want to use the free app