Posted on 04/14/2025 2:50:25 AM PDT by george76
Microsoft has begun the rollout of an AI-powered tool which takes snapshots of users' screens every few seconds.
The Copilot+ Recall feature is available in preview mode to some people with Microsoft's AI PCs and laptops.
It is the relaunch of a feature which was dubbed a "privacy nightmare" when it was first announced last year.
Microsoft paused the rollout in 2024, and after trialling the tech with a small number of users, it has begun expanding access to those signed up to its Windows Insider software testing programme.
...
Microsoft says Recall will be rolled out worldwide, but those based in the EU will have to wait until later in 2025.
Users will opt in to the feature and Microsoft says they can "can pause saving snapshots at any time".
The purpose of Recall is to allow PC users to easily search through their past activity including files, photos, emails and browsing history.
For example, Microsoft says a person who saw a dress online a few days ago would be able to use the feature to easily locate where they saw it.
Still a nightmare?
Privacy campaigner Dr Kris Shrishak - who previously called Recall a "privacy nightmare" - said the opt-in mechanism is "an improvement", but felt it could still be misused.
"Information about other people, who cannot consent, will be captured and processed through Recall," he said.
The feature is able to save images of your emails and messaging apps such as WhatsApp - meaning pictures and messages from others will be saved.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Any place that works with PII or worse FTI can’t have this anywhere on a work machine. It’s an instant security breach no matter where its data is stored.
MS....PRIVACY? BWAHAhahahahaha. So glad I jumped ship to Linux when Win11 ‘news’ starting coming out.
“Nice” way to kill that new/bigger NVMe drive too: More space taken & more data written/scrubbed than just standard user usage.
But how is one to know clicking disable actually does that?
MICROSOFT on their own or at behest of government most likely has backdoor in their software.
Opaque tape over cameras can’t be rest by remote access.
Linux code that is scrutinized by many who could spot built-in Spyware should be safer.
Disable or delete drivers is easy to do. Stop updates, remove, edit or change registry entries.
There’s a lot of ways to do it.
As with compelled Windows "updates", Microsoft's CoPilot is best described as an example of a company bullying their customers. My conclusion: "Eff 'em all ... and the AI horse they rode in on."
Who used to call Microsoft Microsquash?
Removal instructions are published here among other places:
https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/windows-11/how-to-disable-windows-recall
(Scroll to the end past the steps to only turn it off)
lol....please....I suppose it’s as requested by I.T. departments around the world. They’re run each snapshot against AI to recognize if you’re doing work stuff or not. It’s the ‘mouse & keyboard usage monitor’ on steroids.
I don’t see another reason.
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