Core Viewpoint - Xiaomi's "street shooting mode" feature has raised privacy concerns due to its potential misuse for covert photography, leading to widespread discussions on social media [1][9]. Feature History - The "black screen shooting" function was introduced with Xiaomi's MIUI 8 system in 2016 but was removed six years later [2]. - Starting from MIUI 11 in 2019, Xiaomi added a shutter sound to the "street shooting mode" for privacy reasons and eliminated the video recording capability in that mode [3]. - By the end of 2022, MIUI 14 completely removed the "black screen shooting" feature, retaining only the ability to quickly launch the camera while the screen is on [5][6]. User Experience and Concerns - Despite the removal of the black screen shooting function, concerns about "covert photography" persist [9]. - A tutorial for the Xiaomi 14 Ultra demonstrated that the "street shooting mode" could still capture images quickly, raising further privacy issues [10][11]. - User comments reflect a mix of humor and concern regarding the potential for misuse of the feature, particularly among female users [13]. Broader Context of Privacy Issues - The issue of covert photography has historical roots, with past controversies surrounding silent cameras and their impact on privacy [15][18]. - Similar privacy regulations have been implemented in other countries, such as Japan and South Korea, mandating that cameras must emit sound when taking photos [18]. - The discussion extends to other technologies, such as Google Glass, which faced backlash for privacy concerns due to its discreet nature [19][20]. Ethical Considerations - The debate highlights a fundamental question about the boundaries of technology and the responsibilities of tech companies in designing products that consider user privacy [22][23].