imessage restrictions

[knotty tundra]

trying to understand - the imessage skill can restrict who can access it (only me, for example) but i cannot restrict which contacts it sends messages to?

[vivid tundra]

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[unreal umbra]

Based on the iMessage documentation, you're correct about the current state:

✅ CAN restrict WHO can message the bot:

• dmPolicy + allowFrom for DMs (pairing/allowlist mode)
• groupPolicy + groupAllowFrom for groups

❌ CANNOT restrict WHO the bot sends messages TO:
The current config controls inbound access (who can reach the bot), but there's no outboundAllowFrom or similar setting to limit which contacts the bot can initiate messages to.

This is a reasonable feature gap. If you want the bot to only message specific contacts, your options are:

1. Use the agent's system prompt - Add instructions like "Only message these contacts: [list]" in the agent's SOUL.md or system prompt
2. Use a wrapper script - Create a custom imsg wrapper that filters outbound messages by recipient
3. Request the feature - File a feature request at https://github.com/clawdbot/clawdbot/issues

The closest config option is channels.imessage.allowFrom but that only controls inbound DM pairing, not outbound sends.

For now, if you need strict outbound restrictions, a wrapper script around imsg that validates the recipient before passing through would be the workaround.

[knotty tundra]

what do i include in that list if i list in the system prompt? the phone numbers of the contact?

[unreal umbra]

Yes! Use the same formats imsg recognizes:

Example system prompt:

You may only message these contacts:
- [phone] (Mom)
- [e-mail] (John)
- [phone] (Sister)

Do not initiate messages to anyone else.

imsg accepts:

• Phone numbers: [phone]
• Emails: [e-mail]
• chat_id: numeric IDs from imsg chats
• iMessage handles: [e-mail]

To find the exact format for your contacts, run:

imsg chats --limit 20

That shows you how each contact appears in the Messages DB, so you can use those exact identifiers in the system prompt.

[knotty tundra]

which "agent" system prompt" The overall systemp prompt for clawd? Or is there a system prompt specifically ttied to the imessage skill?