The Dutch Data Protection Agency (DDA) announced today that Windows 10 is still in violation of European Union privacy laws. And it is requesting further changes to the ways in which Windows 10 collects data.
Despite complying with previous requests for the rampant data collection in Windows 10, a recent “check brought to light that Microsoft is remotely collecting other data from users,” a DDA statement notes. “As a result, Microsoft is still potentially in breach of privacy rules.”
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The DDA forwarded its findings to its Irish counterpart, the Irish Data Protection Committee (DPC).
“The DPC has had preliminary engagement with Microsoft and, with the assistance of the Dutch authority, we will shortly be engaging further with Microsoft to seek substantive responses on the concerns raised,” a DPC statement adds.
Microsoft continues to say it is committed to its users’ privacy and that it has improved the privacy protections in Windows 10 over the past few years.
“We welcome the opportunity to improve even more the tools and choices we offer to these users,” a Microsoft statement says in response to the charges.
Ah boy. Here we go again: More tools and choices.
Microsoft’s response to EU privacy concerns has always been consistent: The firm keeps adding new privacy interfaces to the system that don’t actually change what Windows 10 collects, but rather simply better documents it. I call this behavior “privacy theater” as it’s the technological equivalent of waiving one’s hands to redirect the viewer’s attention.
Windows 10’s data collection is, of course, mostly benign and designed to provide Microsoft with the data it needs to improve its platform. But the software giant could make all of these problems go away by simply giving users a way to turn off data collection. It has steadfastly refused to do so, regardless of the number of Windows 10 users—now over 830 million—and that most users would obviously just leave data collection on, unaware of the issue.
Instead, we get privacy theater. So we can look forward to more “tools and choices”—further complicating the user experience—instead of meaningful change.
proesterchen
<p>From a privacy standpoint, making any and all data collection subject to an informed opt-in by the user is the absolute least data protection agencies across Europe should be arguing for.</p><p><br></p><p>The fact that companies the world over try to avoid opt-ins like the plague should tell you just how below-market the price is that they are currently able to pay you to acquire your data.</p>
Thom77
<p>"<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Windows 10’s data collection is, of course, mostly benign"</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Dont worry about that tumor Thurott … it's </span><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">mostly</em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> benign.</span></p><p><br></p><p><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </em></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
proesterchen
<blockquote><em><a href="#452341">In reply to lvthunder:</a></em></blockquote><p>This argument falls in the same bucket of diversion tactics as the "no _person_ will likely (earlier, now proven to be untrue version: ever) listen to recordings of your voice commands" argument regurgitated by countless pundits over the years.</p><p><br></p><p>It is fully within Microsoft's ability to collect all internal uses of the data collected from users, in fact, it is the prudent thing to know who has access to this set of sensitive data and limit its use to those who can successfully explain how their product can be improved and retain control of the data that gets shared with them.</p>
dontbeevil
<p>cool… but now focus also on google</p>
Stooks
<blockquote><em><a href="#452342">In reply to doug betts:</a></em></blockquote><p>All collection of data on all platforms from all vendors should be opt in…period. All of them should have a simple on/off switch.</p><p><br></p><p>I gladly give Microsoft my data because I do believe they are using to make their products better….but it needs to be consented too before it is given.</p>
proesterchen
<blockquote><em><a href="#452342">In reply to doug betts:</a></em></blockquote><p>If Microsoft desire user information for the benefit of their product(s) and company, they are free to offer incentives to people for sharing their data.</p><p><br></p><p>For some people, promises to improve the Microsoft products they are currently using may be enough to hand over their personal data. For others, not such much.</p><p><br></p><p>Point is: the data is the user's to share or not, not Microsoft's.</p>
nfeed2000t
<p>When I click the Windows icon and search for a program or local file, my text gets sent to Microsoft. I as a consumer don't want to share data and I would assume an enterprise doesn't wish to share data with Microsoft. </p>