Understanding How the Notion Desktop App Detects Active Meetings: A Technical Perspective
In recent discussions within the productivity community, some users have observed that the Notion desktop application, built on Electron, appears to detect when a meeting is about to begin. Notably, on MacOS, the app can prompt users with notifications such as “Do you want to use AI to transcribe this meeting?” even without explicit integrations or permissions. This intriguing behavior raises questions about the underlying technical mechanisms enabling such detection.
The Context: Notion and Electron
Notion’s desktop app is based on Electron, an open-source framework that allows developers to build cross-platform desktop applications using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. While Electron provides a level of abstraction, it also grants access to certain system-level features, which can potentially be leveraged for various functionalities.
How Might Detection Be Achieved?
Several hypotheses can be considered to explain how Notion detects active meetings:
- Monitoring Microphone Activity
One plausible method involves monitoring microphone usage patterns. Electron applications have access to Node.js APIs, which can interface with the underlying operating system. Despite MacOS’s strict privacy controls, a well-designed Electron app could, in theory, monitor device activity or system events related to microphone use.
- API Utilization and System Calls
While MacOS enforces permissions for microphone access, some applications might attempt to infer microphone activity indirectly. For example, by observing system audio streams or device states through low-level system calls or accessing special device files in /dev, an application may detect if the microphone is being engaged, sidestepping user permissions.
- Browser and Web Service Activity
Alternatively, since the detection occurs when using web services (e.g., Google Meet, Microsoft Teams), the app might track browser activity or network signals associated with ongoing meetings. However, this is less likely on its own unless integrated with a browser extension or network monitoring tools.
- Integration with Other System Features
The app could also detect certain system notifications or background processes that indicate a meeting has started, such as timers or calendar events, although the user states that no calendar integrations are in place.
Privacy Implications and Considerations
It’s essential to underscore that such detection methods, if they exist, should adhere to user privacy guidelines. The fact that users have not granted explicit microphone permissions raises concerns about transparency and consent. Operating systems like MacOS are designed to restrict background apps from
