Methods, Systems, and Devices for Processing Private Media Content Captured by Sensors Operating in Privacy Modes of Operation

An electronic device, comprising:

• one or more sensors capturing media content from an environment of the electronic device;
• one or more processors, operable with the one or more sensors and determining whether the media content is private media content;
• a private data store, situated in the electronic device and operable with the one or more processors;
• and
• a public data store operable with the one or more processors;
• wherein:
• when the one or more processors determine the media content is the private media content, the one or more processors:
• store the private media content in the private data store;
• and
• preclude transmission of the private media content from the private data store to another electronic device;
• or
• when the one or more processors determine the media content is other than the private media content, the one or more processors:
• store the media content in the public data store;
• and
• permit transmission of the media content to the another electronic device.

A method in an electronic device, the method comprising:

• determining, by one or more processors of the electronic device, whether media content captured by one or more sensors of the electronic device is private media content or public media content;
• and
• when the media content is the private media content:
• storing the private media content in a private data store carried by the electronic device;
• and
• precluding transmission of the private media content from the private data store to another electronic device;
• or
• when the media content is the public media content:
• storing the public media content in a public data store;
• and
• permitting transmission of the media content from the public data store to the another electronic device.