Every day, many Apple users make a vast number of FaceTime calls. However, not everyone thinks about how secure it is. Can someone take a screenshot of a conversation with you or make a screen recording?
As technology and misuse evolve, app developers are becoming more aware of privacy and how to protect it. However, Apple allows users to record a screen and take screenshots during a FaceTime conversation. Moreover, the conversation partner won’t even get a notification about it.
And that, in turn, carries certain risks for users. It seems strange that the company still has no control over this.
Let’s look into this problem in more detail.
Can you spot if someone is taking a screenshot on FaceTime?
Some sources report that the notification comes when your conversation partner takes a screenshot. However, after I did my own experiment, I found no notification. Perhaps in the new updates, Apple removed this feature altogether. This means that there is no way for you to know that you have been screenshotted.
Previously, there was a notice for a few seconds where you could even see the name of the person who did it. This is useful in the case of a group call. However, busy users may not see it. Once the pop-up disappears, there’s no access to it, which means that if you don’t see it when it first appears, you won’t know or have proof that the screenshot was taken.
Is it possible to bypass the notification from FaceTime?
As I mentioned above, you can make a screen recording of your FaceTime call, and your conversation partner won’t know anything about it. FaceTime doesn’t alert the person you’re talking to.
I find it strange that Apple allows you to record a video of a conversation but won’t let you record the sound. In this way, the company supposedly partially protects its users. However, this is not true at all. Confidentiality is violated anyway.
You should also be aware that the legal justification for unauthorized recording is somewhat tricky. Truth be told, if you don’t know the person who recorded you, and you don’t have any proof that they made the recording and did it illegally, you won’t be able to do much.
How does the law regulate conversation recording in the U.S.?
There are two legal regimes in the United States regarding recording conversations, whether in person, on the phone, or via video calls.
Residents of California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Washington have what is called two-way consent. This means that everyone involved in the conversation must know that it will be recorded for the recording to be legal.
In the rest of the states, only one party to the conversation needs to know that it is being recorded, and usually, that party is the one making the recording. In Ohio, you can record a conversation with any stranger without telling them about it, and you won’t be breaking the law.
Keep in mind that all of this applies to public places.
How to protect yourself from being screenshotted or recorded
Most of today’s apps pose a serious security threat because our personal information is easily accessed and abused. FaceTime, like Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and similar apps, can be dangerous. The person you’re talking to can take screenshots in real-time and use them against you, one way or another.
That’s why you should always be careful about what you do when using any smart device or social media app, whether on FaceTime or Snapchat.
Cybercriminals often target social media platforms and apps and use your data for fraud. Whatever app you use regularly, do your best to protect your private information.
Try not to post anything susceptible on your social media profiles. When it comes to FaceTime, there’s nothing you can do about your security, as anyone can take a screenshot without your knowledge while you’re chatting with them. The only thing you can do is choose who you communicate with.
The other way isn’t to communicate with someone on FaceTime at all. However, not everyone can make it available for themselves.
