.. include:: ../format.rst
.. include:: ../urls.rst

.. meta::
   :keywords: kill switch killswitch toggle hks

.. _l5_privacy:

Privacy
=======

.. _l5_kill_switch:

Kill Switches
-------------

Hardware kill switches physically disconnect power to certain hardware components of the device.

.. figure:: ../images/hardware/librem5-switches.svg
   :align: center
   :width: 480
   :alt: Kill switch locations on the edge of the phone
   :class: no-scaled-link

   Kill switch locations on the edge of the phone

+-------------------+----------------------------------------+
| Killswitch        | Affected circuit                       |
+===================+========================================+
| Cellular modem    | Power to the M.2 modem                 |
+-------------------+----------------------------------------+
| WLAN/Bluetooth    | Power to the M.2 WiFi/Bluetooth module |
+-------------------+----------------------------------------+
| Camera/microphone | Power to the camera and microphone     |
+-------------------+----------------------------------------+

.. note::
   Features may be disabled at the software level when a kill switch is in the :ref:`enabled <l5_kill_switch_terminology>` position.
   Conversely, it may not be possible to remove power to hardware functionality in software.

.. _l5_kill_switch_terminology:

Terminology
~~~~~~~~~~~

Due to the vernacular ambiguity of killswitch engagement, it is important that users use common terminology to describe whether or not power is being applied to hardware affected by a hardware kill switch.
This section aims to converge on a common meaning.

+-------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Killswitch mode                                 | Meaning                                                                          |
+=================================================+==================================================================================+
| Active |br| Enabled |br| Engaged |br| On        | The killswitch is in a position that **allows** power to flow to the peripheral. |
+-------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Inactive |br| Disabled |br| Disengaged |br| Off | If the killswitch is in a position that **removes** power to the peripheral.     |
+-------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

As it relates to the Librem 5 and Liberty phones:

* **Enabled**: A kill switch is enabled when it is in the **UP** position, closest to the top edge of the phone, away from the SIM tray.
* **Disabled**: A kill switch is disabled when it is in the **DOWN** position, closest to the bottom edge of the phone.

.. _l5_kill_switch_lockdown:

Lockdown mode
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When **all three** switches are in the :ref:`disabled <l5_kill_switch_terminology>` position, these additional features are disabled:

#. Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) unit -- GPS and other networks
#. Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) -- accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer
#. Ambient light and proximity sensors

These features will be enabled if **any** of the switches are in the :ref:`enabled <l5_kill_switch_terminology>` position.

.. seealso::
   `Lockdown Mode on the Librem 5: Beyond Hardware Kill Switches <blog_l5_lockdown_mode_>`_