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190

Recall: Microsoft re-launches ‘privacy nightmare’ AI screenshot tool (www.bbc.com)

submitted 1 month ago by tardigrada@beehaw.org to c/technology@beehaw.org

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Microsoft says it has “listened to feedback” following a privacy row over a new tool which takes regular screenshots of users’ activity.

It was labelled a potential “privacy nightmare” by critics when it was unveiled in May 2024 - prompting the tech giant to postpone its release. It now plans to relaunch the artificial intelligence (AI) powered tool in November on its new CoPilot+ computers.

[...]

When it initially announced the tool at its developer conference in May, Microsoft said it used AI "to make it possible to access virtually anything you have ever seen on your PC", and likened it to having photographic memory. It said Recall could search through a users' past activity, including their files, photos, emails and browsing history.

[...]

But critics quickly raised concerns, given the quantity of sensitive data the system would harvest, with one expert labelling it a potential “privacy nightmare."

[...]

[Pavan Davuluri, Microsoft's corporate vice president of Windows and devices says] that "Windows offers tools to help you control your privacy and customise what gets saved for you to find later".

However a technical blog about it states that “diagnostic data” from the tool may be shared with the firm depending on individual privacy settings.

[Microsoft says in a blog post that users can remove Recall entirely by using the optional features settings in Windows.]

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[–] Butterbee@beehaw.org 17 points 1 month ago (24 children)

I honestly don't want to leave windows. I did use linux for years and I don't want to tinker with my OS or my applications anymore. And you're right SteamOS isn't a general purpose OS. My comment was more in the hopes that if it were pushed out like that, that MS would respond with more consumer friendly approaches to the desktop so I wouldn't HAVE to switch again and deal with the jank. And there will be jank. I know a lot of games work now with proton but how about the Affinity Suite? I found a github that describes how to set up the process in like 18 easy steps so you can begin to install a custom wine for it and just like no I don't want to do that. I want to just keep using my pc that works with the OS I actually paid money for and not get harvested. I am so tired.

[–] subignition@fedia.io 26 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Very relatable. Unfortunately we just don't live in a world where that's currently possible right now.

I'm planning to switch to some Linux or other at end of support for W10. I'm hoping Proton will take care of most of the games I want to play, and a single-purpose Windows VM will take care of the rest, if that's not too big of a security risk to the host OS.

[–] ElectricAirship@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Have you checked out Protondb.com ?

It's been a lifesaver gaming wise. Nice to know most games do and can run on linux, it's usually the ones with some sort of online anti-cheat that don't run.

[–] subignition@fedia.io 7 points 1 month ago

I tend to avoid games that have that sort of anticheat already, but that looks very useful. Thanks for sharing!

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