OnePlus disables ‘plastic filter’ in camera of 8 after privacy concerns – update

OnePlus will disable the color filter on the OnePlus 8 Pro’s camera in a future update. With that filter it is possible to see through thin layers of plastic, but also in some cases through other materials, including clothing.

OnePlus writes on Weibo that it will disable the color filter via an update in the coming week. The feature is not permanently removed; OnePlus says it’s working on it first and bringing the feature back when it “no longer raises privacy concerns.” The update that removes the filter will be out in a week.

Last week, users discovered that the OnePlus 8 Pro’s color filter camera can also see through thin layers of plastic, such as remote controls and keyboards. It was later revealed that the camera also made it possible to see through other objects, including clothing in some cases, according to some users. OnePlus does not specifically comment on this, but the company does say that there is currently a lot of information going around about the possibilities of the filter that are “not in line with the truth”.

According to OnePlus, the situation has raised concerns about privacy. The company wants to allay those concerns. At the same time, OnePlus says that users also like to use the filter. The company therefore wants to come up with a modified version of the filter in the future.

Update: OnePlus now says in a statement on the forum that it will only disable the function in China. For international users, OnePlus is working on a fix that will keep the Photochrom filter working but stop “other functionality that may cause concern.” That update will be sent over the air to users within a few weeks.