EFF Warns Microsoft to Provide 'Real' Opt-Out Choice for Windows 10 Data Collection

Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system "sends an unprecedented amount of usage data back" to the company, so it could face backlash from users whose privacy is being disregarded, said the Electronic Frontier Foundation in a blog post Wednesday. EFF Intake Coordinator Amul Kalia wrote that some of the information sent back includes location data; text, touch and voice input; visited webpages; and telemetry data such as programs run and for how long. He said Microsoft "claims" the data is used to "'personalize' the software by feeding it to the OS assistant called Cortana." Many users might find that service useful, he said, but many other users would want to opt out to preserve their privacy. "While users can opt-out of some of these settings, it is not a guarantee that your computer will stop talking to Microsoft’s servers," wrote Kalia, saying users can't opt out of providing telemetry data at all. While the company has said the data is aggregated and anonymized, Microsoft doesn't explain how or say how long data will be retained, he said. It needs to offer "real, meaningful opt-outs," among other changes in security updates, he added. If not, "Microsoft may find that it has inadvertently discovered just how far it can push its users before they abandon a once-trusted company for a better, more privacy-protective solution," said Kalia. Microsoft "is committed to customer privacy and ensuring that customers have the information and tools they need to make informed decisions," emailed a spokesman. "We listened to feedback from our customers and evolved our approach to the upgrade process. Windows 10 continues to have the highest satisfaction of any version of Windows."