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T-Mobile under fire for secretly recording users’ app activity without consent

By isabelle // 2025-06-02

• T-Mobile secretly enabled a screen recording feature in its T-Life app without user consent, sparking privacy concerns.
• The tool monitors in-app behavior by default, hidden deep in settings, raising transparency issues.
• Critics argue the covert rollout prioritizes data collection over user trust, despite T-Mobile’s claims of improving functionality.
• Users discovered the feature already active on newer devices, fueling skepticism about corporate surveillance practices.
• Disabling the tool is possible, but experts warn this highlights broader issues of forced opt-out policies in tech.

Wireless network operator T-Mobile has been caught quietly enabling a screen recording feature in its T-Life app without notifying customers, let alone obtaining their consent, in a move that has drawn widespread criticism. The feature, which is buried in the app’s settings, monitors user behavior by default, raising serious concerns about corporate transparency and digital rights. While T-Mobile claims the tool only records in-app activity to "improve functionality," critics argue the sneaky rollout undermines trust and exposes the company’s willingness to prioritize data collection over consumer autonomy.

A hidden surveillance tool

Users first discovered the "screen recording tool" buried in the T-Life app’s settings, where it was automatically enabled without warning. According to reports, the feature is designed to "record how customers use the app to analyze and improve your experience," as stated in the app’s description. While T-Mobile insists it does not access personal information, the lack of upfront disclosure has left many questioning the company’s motives. Unlike T-Mobile’s existing "Screen Share" function, which requires explicit user permission before allowing support staff to view a customer’s screen, this new tool operates passively in the background. The company told CNET, "This tool records activities within the app only and does not see or access any personal information." But for privacy-conscious users, the distinction hardly matters when the feature is activated without their knowledge. Tech publications like DroidLife and Lifehacker were among the first to expose the issue, noting that users on newer iPhones and Android devices found the setting already toggled on. The discovery has fueled broader skepticism about how much control consumers truly have over their own devices. The redundancy of the new recording tool in light of its existing "Screen Share" function raises questions about why T-Mobile felt compelled to introduce yet another surveillance feature, especially one that operates covertly.

How to reclaim your privacy

For those who are concerned about the feature, disabling it is straightforward, although the burden of opting out should never fall on the user when consent was never sought in the first place. To turn off screen recording in the T-Life app:

• Open the app and tap "Manage."
• Select the settings gear icon.
• Navigate to "Preferences."
• Locate "Screen recording tool" and toggle it off (gray means inactive)

While T-Mobile claims the rollout is gradual and may not affect all users yet, the broader issue remains: corporations continue to exploit fine print and default settings to bypass informed consent. This isn’t the first time T-Mobile has faced backlash over privacy violations. The company has a history of questionable data practices, from selling customer location data to third parties to failing to secure user information in high-profile breaches. The latest controversy only reinforces the growing distrust between consumers and Big Tech. This incident serves as a reminder that corporations, especially those with access to vast amounts of personal data, cannot be trusted to self-regulate. Without strict oversight, companies like T-Mobile will continue pushing the boundaries of what they can extract from users under the guise of "enhancing service." For consumers, vigilance is non-negotiable. Reading terms and conditions, scrutinizing app permissions, and disabling invasive features should be standard practice. Sources for this article include: ReclaimTheNet.org LifeHacker.com PCMag.com

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