from Hacker News

I was reading a Hacker News post about Apple enclaves for security, and it got me thinking about the physical “silent mode” switch on iPhones. What if instead of controlling sound, this button was repurposed to physically disconnect the camera and microphone power, essentially acting as a privacy toggle? The current “silent mode” function seems a bit redundant - something that could easily be controlled through software.

The idea of using the physical button for camera/mic control would add an extra layer of security, offering users a clear, tangible way to ensure their device isn’t eavesdropping or recording. I realize there could be some concerns about wear and tear, but considering the button isn’t used all that frequently and high-quality buttons are incredibly robust, I wonder if this could be a viable solution.

I’m curious to hear feedback from others - could this concept work in practice, or are there unforeseen risks or challenges that I’m missing?