Pixel Camera (Gcam) - safe to use?

grapheneos_user_2345

I have tried to find and read about Pixel Camera and its safety.
https://grapheneos.org/usage#pixel-camera

Does it send data to Google, somewhere else etc?
is it safe to use?
Any other things related to privacy I need to know and consider before installing it?

area51

grapheneos_user_2345
Here is a simple little test to see if you trust pixel camera, take a photo of your driving licence and passport, then your bank cards, both sides, then take a photograph of your banks username and password. Then just delete them all. Now, if you don't have any doubts about your data sovereignty, and you dont feel the need to change your passwords etc, then use Gcam.

argante

https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/22439-best-way-to-install-google-camera-with-minimum-minimum-google-requirement/12

grapheneos_user_2345

Ok.

So its propriety software and we don't know what it send to network or what kind of other methods its using to identify users.

Skorp

grapheneos_user_2345

Proprietary does not mean it is a black box. We can observe its actions and connections that it makes. There is no evidence to suggest that the app is "unsafe".

ron

The way I used it is to install it and revoke intenet access. Should be good enough. In addition, google photos is needed. Just use no account and revoke internet access as well.

rufus

google photos app is not mandatory. You can install GCam Photos Preview from fdroid instead.

harp

rufus You can install GCam Photos Preview from fdroid instead.

I can't find something like 'GCam Photos Preview', only Gcam Services Provider. But this one is the 'Basic'-version, which is useless on GrapheneOS since the App works without Google Play Services:
On the developer's GitHub-side a 'Photosonly'-version can be downloaded, which provides the Photo button in the App working with other gallery apps than Google Photos:

The only reason to consider Gcam-Services-Provider on GrapheneOS is the ability to use the button in Gcam that opens the last taken photo without having Google Photos installed. If you can do without it, you don't need this app.
https://github.com/lukaspieper/Gcam-Services-Provider

spl4tt

I use it all the time. Install it from play store and deny internet permission from the start.

What data can go out if it doesn't have internet? A camera really doesn't need internet anyway.

harp

spl4tt A camera really doesn't need internet anyway.

Not for it's basic usage. Pixel Camera provides some AI-functions and postprocessing, which are processed in the cloud, so therefore internet permission is needed. If you can do without these, it's fine to revoke internet permission and it's still a bit more comfortable app with a bit more functionality than the Graphene one.

GrapheneUser

harp Hi, did you install the photosonly version? I'm unable to, as i get the error message, that the package probably is invalid.

rufus

harp
You are right, I didn't check the source before. Droid-ify says me that I have installed "GCam Photos Preview v0.4" from "Calyx Institute F-Droid repo".
This app is only to open last taken picture from gcam-app without crashing it. I have to check if this is actually still needed.

edit:
gcam does not crash without "GCam Photos Preview", but ist asks for google pictures when you want to see last taken shot.

spl4tt

harp post process works without internet. The google photos app needs internet if you want video boost and such, not the cam app itself

harp

@GrapheneUser No, sorry, I never tried it, because I can live without the Photo button.

AtriumCompound

It's theoretically possible for gcam to communicate with play services through ipc, allowing it to send metadata / logs to play services. If play services has the internet permission enabled, that information could then be sent to google. Here's a thread on it - grapheneos has a feature on the roadmap to allow blocking communication between apps.

harp

spl4tt post process works without internet.

I didn't mean it needs Internet for post processing at all. In some cases (not every time) there are some additional optimization made in the cloud - if available (= network permission). If not you get the usual result without these.

schweizer

I took a few test photos but I could not see any network permission usage. Could you? Maybe for some specific subjects?