Microsoft recently announced a new feature called Recall for Windows that gives the Copilot AI assistant a “photographic memory” of the user’s activity on their PC. This involves taking snapshots of the active screen every few seconds, encrypting them, and saving them on the device. The goal is to help users remember where they found things on the internet or stored them on their computer. While this feature has practical benefits, it has raised concerns among privacy experts and data protection authorities.
The UK Information Commissioner’s Office and the Irish Data Protection Commission have both requested information from Microsoft to understand the safeguards in place to protect user privacy. Microsoft has assured that the data is stored locally and not accessed by anyone without device access. Additionally, Recall is designed to prevent snapshots of private browsing sessions in the Edge browser, and users have the option to manage what snapshots are collected and stored.
However, questions remain about whether Recall complies with GDPR regulations, as the snapshots may contain sensitive personal information that requires user consent. Microsoft claims that users will be informed and given the option to manage their Recovery and Snapshot Preferences, but failure to set these preferences will default to saving snapshots. Concerns also arise about sharing computers with others and potential unauthorized access to the stored data.
Overall, Microsoft must address these privacy concerns to avoid regulatory issues and maintain user trust. It remains to be seen how Microsoft will navigate these challenges and ensure that Recall respects user privacy while providing valuable AI assistance on Windows PCs.
In other tech news, Google is reportedly considering withdrawing investment in nonprofit newsrooms due to a California bill that would tax digital advertising to fund tax credits for local media outlets. TikTok plans significant layoffs in global user operations, content, and marketing teams, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo alleges that Apple is using conflict zone minerals in its supply chain. The tech industry mourns the passing of computer pioneer Gordon Bell, and Humane, maker of the criticized AI Pin, is exploring a potential sale after facing backlash over its device.
Article Source
https://fortune.com/2024/05/22/microsoft-copilot-ai-pc-windows-privacy/
