>I've been thinking about privacy all wrong. I thought it was about preventing access to my data... but Apple has cleared up my misunderstanding and now I know that it's just about being notified when my data is stolen.
This comment makes absolutely zero sense in more ways than one.
First, in the post Apple also says how you can control exactly which apps have access to the camera in the privacy settings. And, like, not give access to any, if you don't feel like so.
Second, the green light is not about "notified when your data is being stolen" is about being informed if/when you are filmed. In which case, you can just close the lid, quit the app, or do anything you like to prevent it.
Your reasoning is like arguing ironically against an alert vendor that "I thought the problem was getting my valuables stolen, but now the vendor has cleared up my misunderstanding and now I know that it's just about being notified when my valuables are stolen".
You’re missing the point. By the time the light is on it’s too late - your privacy has already been violated. Closing the lid only mitigates a camera privacy violation in progress. Covering the camera prevents the privacy violation from happening in the first place. One is a proactive measure and the other is reactive.
But in those few moments between when I notice the light and when I close the app/lid, my data has been stolen already.
If I'm in a compromising position, I don't want ANY footage of it to be created. If it is a so how frame or multiple seconds, I'm not okay with it. So being told that the notification light is equivalent to covering the camera entirely doesn't line up for me.
So you're saying everyone should always be staring at their webcam to make sure the light is not on? It isn't like there's a subfield of Human Factors studying Cognitive load[1], saying that people don't do a good job at what you're saying people should do. Also, have you ever heard of a rootkit?
I always notice when the light goes on, because it's close to my screen, and effectively a form of movement in a place I don't usually see it. It's also quite bright on Apple computers. Is it different for other people?
Yes. Many people leave the laptop on, and wander off to pee. Or they're jerking off with their eyes closed. Or they are using a different computer at the same time in a data-center. Or all of the above at once.
How on earth can you say for certain you _always_ notice it? If it came on and you failed to notice it, well.. you wouldn't know would you. You'd still think you had a perfect record of always noticing it.
This comment makes absolutely zero sense in more ways than one.
First, in the post Apple also says how you can control exactly which apps have access to the camera in the privacy settings. And, like, not give access to any, if you don't feel like so.
Second, the green light is not about "notified when your data is being stolen" is about being informed if/when you are filmed. In which case, you can just close the lid, quit the app, or do anything you like to prevent it.
Your reasoning is like arguing ironically against an alert vendor that "I thought the problem was getting my valuables stolen, but now the vendor has cleared up my misunderstanding and now I know that it's just about being notified when my valuables are stolen".