feat: add privacy controls for time and timezone in context (#8731)

packages/types/src/global-settings.ts

@@ -89,6 +89,17 @@ export const globalSettingsSchema = z.object({
 	 */
 	maxDiagnosticMessages: z.number().optional(),
 
+	/**
+	 * Whether to include current time in environment details sent with each request
+	 * @default true
+	 */
+	includeCurrentTime: z.boolean().optional(),
+	/**
+	 * Whether to include timezone information when current time is included
+	 * @default false
+	 */
+	includeTimezone: z.boolean().optional(),
+
 	browserToolEnabled: z.boolean().optional(),
 	browserViewportSize: z.string().optional(),
 	screenshotQuality: z.number().optional(),
@@ -311,6 +322,9 @@ export const EVALS_SETTINGS: RooCodeSettings = {
 	includeDiagnosticMessages: true,
 	maxDiagnosticMessages: 50,
 
+	includeCurrentTime: true,
+	includeTimezone: false,
+
 	language: "en",
 	telemetrySetting: "enabled",
 

src/core/environment/getEnvironmentDetails.ts

@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ export async function getEnvironmentDetails(cline: Task, includeFileDetails: boo
 		terminalOutputLineLimit = 500,
 		terminalOutputCharacterLimit = DEFAULT_TERMINAL_OUTPUT_CHARACTER_LIMIT,
 		maxWorkspaceFiles = 200,
+		includeCurrentTime = true,
+		includeTimezone = false,
 	} = state ?? {}
 
 	// It could be useful for cline to know if the user went from one or no
@@ -190,15 +192,21 @@ export async function getEnvironmentDetails(cline: Task, includeFileDetails: boo
 		details += terminalDetails
 	}
 
-	// Add current time information with timezone.
-	const now = new Date()
-
-	const timeZone = Intl.DateTimeFormat().resolvedOptions().timeZone
-	const timeZoneOffset = -now.getTimezoneOffset() / 60 // Convert to hours and invert sign to match conventional notation
-	const timeZoneOffsetHours = Math.floor(Math.abs(timeZoneOffset))
-	const timeZoneOffsetMinutes = Math.abs(Math.round((Math.abs(timeZoneOffset) - timeZoneOffsetHours) * 60))
-	const timeZoneOffsetStr = `${timeZoneOffset >= 0 ? "+" : "-"}${timeZoneOffsetHours}:${timeZoneOffsetMinutes.toString().padStart(2, "0")}`
-	details += `\n\n# Current Time\nCurrent time in ISO 8601 UTC format: ${now.toISOString()}\nUser time zone: ${timeZone}, UTC${timeZoneOffsetStr}`
+	// Add current time information (only if enabled).
+	if (includeCurrentTime) {
+		const now = new Date()
+		details += `\n\n# Current Time\nCurrent time in ISO 8601 UTC format: ${now.toISOString()}`
+
+		// Add timezone information only if both includeCurrentTime and includeTimezone are enabled
+		if (includeTimezone) {
+			const timeZone = Intl.DateTimeFormat().resolvedOptions().timeZone
+			const timeZoneOffset = -now.getTimezoneOffset() / 60 // Convert to hours and invert sign to match conventional notation
+			const timeZoneOffsetHours = Math.floor(Math.abs(timeZoneOffset))
+			const timeZoneOffsetMinutes = Math.abs(Math.round((Math.abs(timeZoneOffset) - timeZoneOffsetHours) * 60))
+			const timeZoneOffsetStr = `${timeZoneOffset >= 0 ? "+" : "-"}${timeZoneOffsetHours}:${timeZoneOffsetMinutes.toString().padStart(2, "0")}`
+			details += `\nUser time zone: ${timeZone}, UTC${timeZoneOffsetStr}`
+		}
+	}
 
 	// Add context tokens information.
 	const { contextTokens, totalCost } = getApiMetrics(cline.clineMessages)

src/core/webview/ClineProvider.ts

@@ -1808,6 +1808,8 @@ export class ClineProvider
 			followupAutoApproveTimeoutMs,
 			includeDiagnosticMessages,
 			maxDiagnosticMessages,
+			includeCurrentTime,
+			includeTimezone,
 			includeTaskHistoryInEnhance,
 			taskSyncEnabled,
 			remoteControlEnabled,
@@ -1957,6 +1959,8 @@ export class ClineProvider
 			followupAutoApproveTimeoutMs: followupAutoApproveTimeoutMs ?? 60000,
 			includeDiagnosticMessages: includeDiagnosticMessages ?? true,
 			maxDiagnosticMessages: maxDiagnosticMessages ?? 50,
+			includeCurrentTime: includeCurrentTime ?? true,
+			includeTimezone: includeTimezone ?? false,
 			includeTaskHistoryInEnhance: includeTaskHistoryInEnhance ?? true,
 			taskSyncEnabled,
 			remoteControlEnabled,
@@ -2168,6 +2172,8 @@ export class ClineProvider
 			profileThresholds: stateValues.profileThresholds ?? {},
 			includeDiagnosticMessages: stateValues.includeDiagnosticMessages ?? true,
 			maxDiagnosticMessages: stateValues.maxDiagnosticMessages ?? 50,
+			includeCurrentTime: stateValues.includeCurrentTime ?? true,
+			includeTimezone: stateValues.includeTimezone ?? false,
 			includeTaskHistoryInEnhance: stateValues.includeTaskHistoryInEnhance ?? true,
 			taskSyncEnabled,
 			remoteControlEnabled: (() => {

src/core/webview/__tests__/ClineProvider.spec.ts

@@ -543,6 +543,8 @@ describe("ClineProvider", () => {
 			maxReadFileLine: 500,
 			maxImageFileSize: 5,
 			maxTotalImageSize: 20,
+			includeCurrentTime: true,
+			includeTimezone: false,
 			cloudUserInfo: null,
 			organizationAllowList: ORGANIZATION_ALLOW_ALL,
 			autoCondenseContext: true,

src/core/webview/webviewMessageHandler.ts

@@ -1613,6 +1613,14 @@ export const webviewMessageHandler = async (
 			await updateGlobalState("maxDiagnosticMessages", message.value ?? 50)
 			await provider.postStateToWebview()
 			break
+		case "includeCurrentTime":
+			await updateGlobalState("includeCurrentTime", message.bool ?? true)
+			await provider.postStateToWebview()
+			break
+		case "includeTimezone":
+			await updateGlobalState("includeTimezone", message.bool ?? false)
+			await provider.postStateToWebview()
+			break
 		case "setHistoryPreviewCollapsed": // Add the new case handler
 			await updateGlobalState("historyPreviewCollapsed", message.bool ?? false)
 			// No need to call postStateToWebview here as the UI already updated optimistically

src/shared/ExtensionMessage.ts

@@ -285,6 +285,8 @@ export type ExtensionState = Pick<
 	| "profileThresholds"
 	| "includeDiagnosticMessages"
 	| "maxDiagnosticMessages"
+	| "includeCurrentTime"
+	| "includeTimezone"
 	| "openRouterImageGenerationSelectedModel"
 	| "includeTaskHistoryInEnhance"
 	| "reasoningBlockCollapsed"

src/shared/WebviewMessage.ts

@@ -175,6 +175,8 @@ export interface WebviewMessage {
 		| "maxConcurrentFileReads"
 		| "includeDiagnosticMessages"
 		| "maxDiagnosticMessages"
+		| "includeCurrentTime"
+		| "includeTimezone"
 		| "searchFiles"
 		| "toggleApiConfigPin"
 		| "setHistoryPreviewCollapsed"

webview-ui/src/components/settings/ContextManagementSettings.tsx

@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ type ContextManagementSettingsProps = HTMLAttributes<HTMLDivElement> & {
 	includeDiagnosticMessages?: boolean
 	maxDiagnosticMessages?: number
 	writeDelayMs: number
+	includeCurrentTime?: boolean
+	includeTimezone?: boolean
 	setCachedStateField: SetCachedStateField<
 		| "autoCondenseContext"
 		| "autoCondenseContextPercent"
@@ -41,6 +43,8 @@ type ContextManagementSettingsProps = HTMLAttributes<HTMLDivElement> & {
 		| "includeDiagnosticMessages"
 		| "maxDiagnosticMessages"
 		| "writeDelayMs"
+		| "includeCurrentTime"
+		| "includeTimezone"
 	>
 }
 
@@ -60,6 +64,8 @@ export const ContextManagementSettings = ({
 	includeDiagnosticMessages,
 	maxDiagnosticMessages,
 	writeDelayMs,
+	includeCurrentTime = true,
+	includeTimezone = false,
 	className,
 	...props
 }: ContextManagementSettingsProps) => {
@@ -356,6 +362,35 @@ export const ContextManagementSettings = ({
 						{t("settings:contextManagement.diagnostics.delayAfterWrite.description")}
 					</div>
 				</div>
+
+				<div>
+					<VSCodeCheckbox
+						checked={includeCurrentTime}
+						onChange={(e: any) => setCachedStateField("includeCurrentTime", e.target.checked)}
+						data-testid="include-current-time-checkbox">
+						<label className="block font-medium mb-1">
+							{t("settings:contextManagement.timeInfo.includeCurrentTime.label")}
+						</label>
+					</VSCodeCheckbox>
+					<div className="text-vscode-descriptionForeground text-sm mt-1 mb-3">
+						{t("settings:contextManagement.timeInfo.includeCurrentTime.description")}
+					</div>
+				</div>
+
+				<div>
+					<VSCodeCheckbox
+						checked={includeTimezone}
+						disabled={!includeCurrentTime}
+						onChange={(e: any) => setCachedStateField("includeTimezone", e.target.checked)}
+						data-testid="include-timezone-checkbox">
+						<label className="block font-medium mb-1">
+							{t("settings:contextManagement.timeInfo.includeTimezone.label")}
+						</label>
+					</VSCodeCheckbox>
+					<div className="text-vscode-descriptionForeground text-sm mt-1 mb-3">
+						{t("settings:contextManagement.timeInfo.includeTimezone.description")}
+					</div>
+				</div>
 			</Section>
 			<Section className="pt-2">
 				<VSCodeCheckbox

webview-ui/src/components/settings/SettingsView.tsx

@@ -191,6 +191,8 @@ const SettingsView = forwardRef<SettingsViewRef, SettingsViewProps>(({ onDone, t
 		followupAutoApproveTimeoutMs,
 		includeDiagnosticMessages,
 		maxDiagnosticMessages,
+		includeCurrentTime,
+		includeTimezone,
 		includeTaskHistoryInEnhance,
 		openRouterImageApiKey,
 		openRouterImageGenerationSelectedModel,
@@ -372,6 +374,8 @@ const SettingsView = forwardRef<SettingsViewRef, SettingsViewProps>(({ onDone, t
 			vscode.postMessage({ type: "maxConcurrentFileReads", value: cachedState.maxConcurrentFileReads ?? 5 })
 			vscode.postMessage({ type: "includeDiagnosticMessages", bool: includeDiagnosticMessages })
 			vscode.postMessage({ type: "maxDiagnosticMessages", value: maxDiagnosticMessages ?? 50 })
+			vscode.postMessage({ type: "includeCurrentTime", bool: includeCurrentTime ?? true })
+			vscode.postMessage({ type: "includeTimezone", bool: includeTimezone ?? false })
 			vscode.postMessage({ type: "currentApiConfigName", text: currentApiConfigName })
 			vscode.postMessage({ type: "updateExperimental", values: experiments })
 			vscode.postMessage({ type: "alwaysAllowModeSwitch", bool: alwaysAllowModeSwitch })
@@ -744,6 +748,8 @@ const SettingsView = forwardRef<SettingsViewRef, SettingsViewProps>(({ onDone, t
 							includeDiagnosticMessages={includeDiagnosticMessages}
 							maxDiagnosticMessages={maxDiagnosticMessages}
 							writeDelayMs={writeDelayMs}
+							includeCurrentTime={includeCurrentTime}
+							includeTimezone={includeTimezone}
 							setCachedStateField={setCachedStateField}
 						/>
 					)}

webview-ui/src/components/settings/__tests__/SettingsView.change-detection.spec.tsx

@@ -183,6 +183,8 @@ describe("SettingsView - Change Detection Fix", () => {
 		followupAutoApproveTimeoutMs: undefined,
 		includeDiagnosticMessages: false,
 		maxDiagnosticMessages: 50,
+		includeCurrentTime: true,
+		includeTimezone: false,
 		includeTaskHistoryInEnhance: true,
 		openRouterImageApiKey: undefined,
 		openRouterImageGenerationSelectedModel: undefined,

webview-ui/src/components/settings/__tests__/SettingsView.unsaved-changes.spec.tsx

@@ -193,6 +193,8 @@ describe("SettingsView - Unsaved Changes Detection", () => {
 		followupAutoApproveTimeoutMs: undefined,
 		includeDiagnosticMessages: false,
 		maxDiagnosticMessages: 50,
+		includeCurrentTime: true,
+		includeTimezone: false,
 		includeTaskHistoryInEnhance: true,
 		openRouterImageApiKey: undefined,
 		openRouterImageGenerationSelectedModel: undefined,

webview-ui/src/context/ExtensionStateContext.tsx

@@ -155,6 +155,10 @@ export interface ExtensionStateContextType extends ExtensionState {
 	includeDiagnosticMessages?: boolean
 	setIncludeDiagnosticMessages: (value: boolean) => void
 	maxDiagnosticMessages?: number
+	includeCurrentTime?: boolean
+	setIncludeCurrentTime: (value: boolean) => void
+	includeTimezone?: boolean
+	setIncludeTimezone: (value: boolean) => void
 	setMaxDiagnosticMessages: (value: number) => void
 	includeTaskHistoryInEnhance?: boolean
 	setIncludeTaskHistoryInEnhance: (value: boolean) => void
@@ -264,6 +268,8 @@ export const ExtensionStateContextProvider: React.FC<{ children: React.ReactNode
 		alwaysAllowUpdateTodoList: true,
 		includeDiagnosticMessages: true,
 		maxDiagnosticMessages: 50,
+		includeCurrentTime: true, // Default to including current time in requests
+		includeTimezone: false, // Default to NOT including timezone
 		openRouterImageApiKey: "",
 		openRouterImageGenerationSelectedModel: "",
 	})
@@ -557,6 +563,14 @@ export const ExtensionStateContextProvider: React.FC<{ children: React.ReactNode
 		setMaxDiagnosticMessages: (value) => {
 			setState((prevState) => ({ ...prevState, maxDiagnosticMessages: value }))
 		},
+		includeCurrentTime: state.includeCurrentTime,
+		setIncludeCurrentTime: (value) => {
+			setState((prevState) => ({ ...prevState, includeCurrentTime: value }))
+		},
+		includeTimezone: state.includeTimezone,
+		setIncludeTimezone: (value) => {
+			setState((prevState) => ({ ...prevState, includeTimezone: value }))
+		},
 		includeTaskHistoryInEnhance,
 		setIncludeTaskHistoryInEnhance,
 	}

webview-ui/src/context/__tests__/ExtensionStateContext.spec.tsx

@@ -211,6 +211,8 @@ describe("mergeExtensionState", () => {
 			hasOpenedModeSelector: false, // Add the new required property
 			maxImageFileSize: 5,
 			maxTotalImageSize: 20,
+			includeCurrentTime: true,
+			includeTimezone: false,
 			remoteControlEnabled: false,
 			taskSyncEnabled: false,
 			featureRoomoteControlEnabled: false,

webview-ui/src/i18n/locales/en/settings.json

@@ -610,6 +610,16 @@
 			"profileDescription": "Custom threshold for this profile only (overrides global default)",
 			"inheritDescription": "This profile inherits the global default threshold ({{threshold}}%)",
 			"usesGlobal": "(uses global {{threshold}}%)"
+		},
+		"timeInfo": {
+			"includeCurrentTime": {
+				"label": "Include current time in requests",
+				"description": "When enabled, the current date and time will be included in the context sent with each request. This can help the AI provide time-aware responses."
+			},
+			"includeTimezone": {
+				"label": "Include timezone information",
+				"description": "When enabled, your timezone information will be included along with the current time. This is only available when 'Include current time in requests' is enabled."
+			}
 		}
 	},
 	"terminal": {