Tell HN: Installing Cursor on iOS irreversibly changes your privacy settings
Cursor's iOS app irreversibly downgraded user privacy settings without consent—and support says they can't switch it back.
Why it matters
A cautionary case study in how AI developer tools can quietly degrade user privacy protections through app onboarding flows. Raises questions about informed consent and whether product design that obscures privacy downgrades meets regulatory standards.
The key facts
11 to knowCursor iOS app automatically switched users from Privacy Mode (Legacy) to softer Privacy Mode on login
Privacy Mode (Legacy) setting has been removed from all menus and cannot be restored
New Privacy Mode includes clause allowing code storage for 'Background Agents or Other Features'
Cursor support confirmed inability to revert users to previous privacy setting
User reports this change happened without clear disclosure or user consent
Cursor iOS app auto-switches users from Privacy Mode (Legacy) ('Do not store my code') to softer Privacy Mode without clear consent
New Privacy Mode includes clause: 'Code may be stored for Background Agents or Other Features'
Privacy Mode (Legacy) option has been removed from all menus and cannot be restored by support
Support acknowledged: 'When you set up the mobile app, the prompt to turn on Cloud Agents switched you from Privacy Mode (Legacy) to our current Privacy Mode, without making clear what that meant'
User reports inability to revert setting after iOS app installation
Post published on Hacker News with 19 points — suggests community concern but limited viral reach
Go to the source
Hacker Newsnews.ycombinator.com
Publisher excerpt: Just hit this today and I'm furious. I installed the Cursor iOS app to see what it had. I've been on `Privacy Mode (Legacy)` for a long time, which is the "Do not store my code" setting. A year or so ago they marked this as "Legacy" and hid it under a "Extra options" menu. They added a new Privacy…