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A hardware specification for increasing privacy in all device cameras.
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https://github.com/seanpm2001/Camera-privacy-specification?tab=readme-ov-file#camera-privacy-specification
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Translations in languages other than English are machine translated and are not yet accurate. No errors have been fixed yet as of March 21st 2021. Please report translation errors here. Make sure to backup your correction with sources and guide me, as I don't know languages other than English well (I plan on getting a translator eventually) please cite wiktionary and other sources in your report. Failing to do so will result in a rejection of the correction being published.
Note: due to limitations with GitHub's interpretation of markdown (and pretty much every other web-based interpretation of markdown) clicking these links will redirect you to a separate file on a separate page that isn't the intended page. You will be redirected to the .github folder of this project, where the README translations are hosted.
Note: currently, translations in languages other than English only apply to version 2. You must speak English to use this specification until a verified translation for the latest version is available.
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Click/tap here to expand/collapse the specification.
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Applies to: every digital device that uses a camera of any image/video/audio quality. The main focus goes to a lid that covers the camera entirely.
This specification is in the process of being made more user friendly.
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Click/tap here to expand/collapse the lid definition section.
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| ℹ️ Example of a lid sliding over a webcam |
A lid is a cover that slides over the camera, preventing it from recording anything but the lid. When the lid is active, the webcam cannot record anything.
A rollover lid must be applicable to every camera. The lid must be 100% opaque, with absolutely no transparency / translucency, and it must be durable enough to last 50 or more years (as part of 
Hardware Longevity)
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The lid cannot be connected with any wireless connection type, including but not limited to:
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This means that the lid cannot be controlled by any wireless mean, the lid must be openable using a hand, or a software function included in the operating system.
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The lid must be detachable with open source software, and there has to be a choice for the user to choose a different lid opening software/application if needed. Creators of lid opening software must follow this specification as well. The software for the lid cannot rely on system time or UNIX time, and must be 64 bit or higher. The lid cannot be locked to expire at a certain date.
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The lid must take no more than 10 seconds to open and close electronically or manually (For manual opening, the user can take however long they want, but it must be doable within 10 seconds, even by an infant). The lid must be able to be closed or opened both with software, and with manual force (even with the hand of an infant) the lid must be secure.
Click/tap here to expand/collapse the Additional cameras, Internet connnections, and virtual assistants section.
The lid cannot contain additional cameras (such as a webcam on a webcam, a webcam on the lid itself, etc.) or other tracking devices. The lid cannot integrate with "smart" software assistants/virtual assistants, including but not limited to:
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Click/tap here to expand/collapse the covering the webcam light section.
The lid cannot cover the light that indicates that the Webcam is turned on, either while the lid is open or closed.
Click/tap here to expand/collapse the inclusion with the device section.
The lid must be included with the device, it cannot be a separate component, or an attachment. The lid must be repairable and replaceable at any time, with or without a device warranty. Destruction of the lid should not destroy the rest of the device.
Click/tap here to expand/collapse the following the specification section.
The lid specification must be followed in its entirety, without cherrypicking. You must always follow the latest version of the lid specification from the original author, even if it is not available in your native language.
Note: currently, translations in languages other than English only apply to version 2. You must speak English to use this specification until a verified translation for the latest version is available.
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The lid itself cannot contain cameras on it or around it. Any other cameras must also come with a lid with all the same rules listed in this specification.
Click/tap here to expand/collapse the specification application section.
The specification applies to all users, including but not limited to the user, the government, corporations, foundations, organizations, communities, etc.
Click/tap here to expand/collapse the lid labels section.
The lid cannot contain any labels that persuade the user not to use the lid. You are allowed to put your company logo on the lid, but it can't damage its lifespan or suggest that the lid is faulty.
Click/tap here to expand/collapse the License section.
The software for the lid can only be applied under the following licenses:
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The lid specification is covered by the GNU General Public License version 3. Source code for the lid software must be made available to all users.
End of lid.
Click/tap here to expand/collapse the pending approval section.
The specification is pending approval from the following computer manufacturing companies and brands:
- Acer
- Alienware
- Apple Inc.
- Asus
- Dell
- Google LLC/Alphabet Inc
- Huawei
- IBM
- Microsoft Corp
- Nintendo
- Samsung
- System76
- Other/unlisted
It is anticipated that one of these manufacturers will include this specification in their devices.
End of specification.
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Specification version: 5 (2024, Saturday, October 19th at 03:36 pm PST)
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A webcam is a camera that is capable of streaming to the Internet. It is normally part of a computer in the top middle, or is separate, and is attached to the screen.
A rollover lid is a lid that can roll open and roll closed.
Opaque is the opposite of transparent. If something is 100% opaque, you cannot see through it. If something is 10% opaque, you can see through it.
Transparency is the opposite of opaque. If something is 100% transparent, you can see through it. If something is 0% transparent, you cannot see through it.
Open Source software is software that has its source code publicly available. You can see, modify, and redistribute the source code (often under license terms) not to be confused with shared source software, which is software where you have to get special permission to see the source code, and you can't redistribute it.
In this context, choice means option. If the user wants to use the lid, they can choose to open it. If the user does not want to open the lid, they can choose to keep it closed. Nobody else can take away this choice.
Lid opening software is software that is programmed to open the lid of the camera.
System time is the time a computer uses. In this context, it means that the time on the computers clock can't determine when or why the lid will open.
UNIX time is a form of system time for UNIX-like operating systems, such as Linux, Android, MacOS, iOS, BSD, and more. Time is represented with a number, which increases with every second that passes since the time 1970, January 1st at 12:00:00 am.
64 bit computing is computing with a processor that can handle 64 bits (2^64=9,223,372,036,854,775,807) this has implications on system time, especially UNIX time. On 32 bit systems (2^32=4,294,967,296) UNIX time stops in the year 2038, but with 64 bit time, it can go for millions of years.
In this context, expiration means software that stops working after a certain point/date.
Manually doing something is doing something without the aid of a computeer.
The indicator light on a webcam is a light that comes on to tell you that the webcam is recording.
The lid cannot be a separate component, meaning the lid must be included with the computer.
The lid cannot be an add-on attachment to the device, it should be included with the computer.
The right to repair is the right to modify and fix a device owned by the user that is damaged or broken. It is an important right. Without it, computers are thrown away and wasted, instead of being repaired. This costs resources and money.
A device warranty is a warranty that covers the support of a computing device for a certain amount of time after purchase, where tech support and repairs are cheaper.
If moving the lid damages or destroys the rest of the device, it is a violation of the specification.
Wikipedia:Cherry picking v1246738244
Cherry picking, suppressing evidence, or the fallacy of incomplete evidence is the act of pointing to individual cases or data that seem to confirm a particular position while ignoring a significant portion of related and similar cases or data that may contradict that position. Cherry picking may be committed intentionally or unintentionally.
A software license is a license that tells you what you can and cannot do with a piece of software.
Labels that discourage the usage of the lid are discouraged.
Branding is allowed on the lid. You can put your company logo on the lid, so long as it doesn't interfere with its functionality.
Source code is the data that makes up computer software.
A tracking device is a software/hardware component that listens, and collects user information with or without the users permission.
A "smart" software assistant, or virtual assistant, is a voice guided software tool that listens to voice commands, and gives responses to them.
GNU-General-Public-License-v2-(GPL-2.0)
Check the SPDX identifier site for more information
GNU-General-Public-License-v3-(GPL-3.0)
Check the SPDX identifier site for more information
GNU-Affero-General-Public-License-v1-(AGPL-1.0-only)
Check the SPDX identifier site for more information
GNU-Affero-General-Public-License-v3-(AGPL-3.0-only)
Check the SPDX identifier site for more information
MIT-No-Attribution-License-(MIT-0)
Check the SPDX identifier site for more information
BSD-Zero-Clause-License-(0BSD)
Check the SPDX identifier site for more information
The-Unlicense-(Unlicense)
Check the SPDX identifier site for more information
Vim-License-(Vim)
Check the SPDX identifier site for more information
WTFPL-(do-What-The-F*ck-You-Want-Public-License)-(WTFPL)
Check the SPDX identifier site for more information
Creative-Commons-Zero-(CC0-1.0)
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Extra: The word lid was used 84 times in this article (including in source code comments) (as of V5)
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Open Source Security Camera Specification- Pairs well with the Camera Privacy Specification, this project is about free and open source security cameras. -
LapLight- Another hardware specification, this one is about flashlight functionality being added to laptops -
CamCamPlus (CC+)- A camera project that aims to be compliant with the camera privacy specification.
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Note On 2022, Sunday, March 13th at 2:00 am PST, the time jumped ahead 1 hour to 3:00 am.
Note You may need special rendering support for the
<details>HTML tag being used in this document
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Version 1 (2022, Sunday, January 23rd at 02:44 pm PST)
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This release was created by
@seanpm2001 -
View this version separately:
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Started the file
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Added the title section and the
applies tosubsection -
Added lots of info regarding the lid
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Added the additional info section
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No other changes in version 1
Version 2 (2022, Sunday, January 23rd at 03:32 pm PST)
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This release was created by
@seanpm2001 -
View this version separately:
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Fixed some typos
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Added the changelog
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Added a language switcher
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Removed English specific HTML semantic tags
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No other changes in version 2
Version 3 (2022, Wednesday, January 26th at 03:47 pm PST)
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This release was created by
@seanpm2001 -
View this version separately:
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Fixed more loopholes
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Added a lid definition
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Separated the specification into chapters
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Added licensing info
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No other changes in version 3
Version 4 (2024, Tuesday, October 15th at 12:25 pm PST)
This release was created by
@seanpm2001
This release was inspired by a real event: I recently saw tape being used to cover a webcam on 2024, Monday, October 14th, and it inspired me to revive this project. I worked on improving the specification, and fixing typos today on 2024, Tuesday, October 15th
- Syntax improvements
- Added the title section
- Added the index section
- Made all sections collapse-able
- Moved some sections around
- Added the
Overviewsection - Converted lid image syntax from Markdown to HTML
- Split off and simplified the
Wireless connectivitysection - Updated the licensing section, increasing the license count to 10, and adding SPDX identifiers to each license
- Added information about lid covering webcam light
- Added System76 as a potential user
- Updated the file history section
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- Added an entry for version 4
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- Added attribution for entries 1 to 4
- Updated the file info section
- Added the footer
- No other changes in version 4
Version 5 (2024, Saturday, October 19th at 03:36 pm PST)
This release was created by
@seanpm2001
- Updated the
Specificationsection to include a notice about user friendly changes. - Updated several sections
- Added definitions for terms, to make the document more user friendly
- Added the
See alsosection - Updated the file history section
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- Added an entry for version 5
- Updated the file info section
- No other changes in version 5
End of file history section.
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