An update to T-Mobile’s T-Life app is rolling out at present, and customers are finding that it has screen recording on by default.
The carrier has confirmed that this is by design, but claims that it’s not a privacy risk, and says that it can be toggled off if desired …
The T-Life app has long had a Screen Share feature within the Help & Support section. This is designed to allow support staff assist you in troubleshooting something while using the app.
However, the version currently rolling out has a completely separate – and permanently on – Screen Recording Tool in both iOS and Android versions. Droidlife noted that customers weren’t exactly happy to see it.
Owners of an iPhone 16 found a toggle within their settings menu that was indeed called “Screen recording tool” […] When we first saw folks freaking out about the setting being turned on without their approval, we figured it was a support setting that would simply allow a customer service rep to see a customer’s screen if they needed a extra level of support. However, the description for the setting makes it clear that it is not that at all:
“We use a tool to record how customers use the app to analyze and improve your experience. Only T-Mobile will review and analyze your info.”
T-Mobile confirmed to CNET that it is intended to be on by default.
“To help us give customers who use T-Life a smoother experience, we are rolling out a new tool in the app that will help us quickly troubleshoot reported or detected issues,” the spokesperson said. “This tool records activities within the app only and does not see or access any personal information. If a customer’s T-Life app currently supports the new functionality, it can be turned off in the settings under preferences.”
Not everyone is yet seeing the update with this ‘feature,’ and it’s unclear at present whether it’s being limited to specific phones or is in the process of rolling out to everyone.
9to5Mac’s Take
While T-Mobile’s aim here may be perfectly benign, switching on screen recording by default – recording everything a user does in an app – is an absolutely terrible decision, and completely unacceptable. By all means offer it as an option, but this should never happen without explicit user opt-in.
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