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Microsoft is about to introduce the controversial Recall tool
Microsoft says it has "listened to feedback" about the privacy breach of its new Recall tool, which regularly captures screenshots of user activity.
When the tool was introduced (this May), critics called it a potential "privacy nightmare." The public outcry was enough for Microsoft to change its mind and temporarily postpone the rollout.
The AI-powered tool is now scheduled for release in November on the new Copilot+ computers. Some of the more controversial features have been removed, such as the fact that the tool will not be turned on by default, but will have to be decided by the user.
“Recall is an experience that has to be decided upon. The recordings and all related information are always encrypted,” said Pavan Davuluri, Microsoft's vice president of Windows systems and devices. He adds that "Windows provides tools to control your privacy and customize what gets saved so you can find it later."
Diagnostic data from the tool will still be accessible to the company, but screenshots can only be accessed with a biometric login. By default, sensitive information such as financial data will not be recorded.
The Microsoft Recall has also come under the scrutiny of a number of regulatory bodies, which Microsoft briefed on the changes and apparently got the go-ahead.
The original version of the Recall tool could take a screenshot at any time and thus have access to everything we do on the computer. With the tool, the user could in return help himself in finding files, photos, e-mails and the like.
In this way, Microsoft would gain access to incredible amounts of data that it could use for various purposes. With the new changes, he at least partially reassured the public. But we'll see how well it does when it's released.
