Icon semiotics for sharing, visibility, read only in user profile settings

I propose a review of the icons used in the profile page, the icons used to denote the sharing / visibility of the profile properties for other users.

Context

In the profile information app, an icon indicates which audience can see a particular attribute: Private, Local, Federated, Public. The current setting is indicated by an icon next to the input label.

Current situation

Currently, four symbols are used:

• Private: Smartphone icon
• Local: Padlock icon
• Federated: Group of people
• Public: Globe

The symbols used have established meanings.

• Smartphone icon: Smartphone client (small portrait screen, touchscreen, finger operation), typically in contrast to a desktop client
• Padlock: Read-only access: “Object is protected from changes”
• Group of people: In the context of NextCloud, the same symmetrical icon with three people is used for user groups (account-management__group-list) and likely for other purposes as well. Additionally, a similar icon with two people is used in the “Contacts” app for groups.

Problem

It's confusing when the same icon is used for different purposes.
On the profile page, the icons indicate visibility to others: who can see what, and with whom I share this information.

What is particularly confusing in this case is that three of the four icons come from different contexts and have no (established) meaning in the context of “shared with” or “visibility to others.”

Even worse: The usergroup icon has the context of «sharing», but on this page, it denotes the usergroups of the federation construct, in contrast to the usergroups of the local installation. So it is just wrong.

In my view, the appropriate context for the four icons is “sharing” (not “visibility”). I would therefore reference the share icon, butr not the eye icon. Since the icon is used to denominate one of the (four?) sharing settings, the standard sharing icon with three dots in an equilateral triangle is no option.

Before deciding for an alternative, better icon set, I recommend reviewing the use of icons in the “Files” app. The image below is meant to be a basis for that discussion.

Issue feedback

• Am I the only one confused with the current situation?
• Did I miss an aspect? Are there more than four sharing cases to cover?

Start by reviewing the profile information app and the existing icon usage in the Files app, as suggested in the issue. Establish which sharing or visibility states must be represented and document an agreed icon set; the issue currently does not name files, tests, or a concrete implementation entry point.