Microsoft has announced plans to relaunch its controversial AI-powered tool, Recall, following backlash over privacy concerns. Initially set to release in June 2024, the tool, which takes regular screenshots of user activity, was postponed after critics labeled it a privacy nightmare.
In response to public outcry, Microsoft has made significant changes to the tool ahead of its new launch in November 2024. Notably, Recall will now be an opt-in feature, whereas the original version was enabled by default. The update will be rolled out on Microsoft’s upcoming CoPilot+ computers, which the company describes as the fastest and most intelligent Windows PCs yet.
Privacy Concerns Spark ICO Investigation
When Recall was first introduced in May 2024 at Microsoft’s developer conference, the tool was described as an AI-powered photographic memory for computers. It was designed to help users quickly retrieve past activities—including files, photos, emails, and browsing history—by taking desktop screenshots every few seconds. Microsoft claimed it would allow users to find anything they had ever seen on a PC.
However, the tool quickly became the subject of criticism, with privacy experts warning about the potential risks of collecting such large amounts of sensitive data. UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) opened an inquiry into the tool’s privacy implications and began assessing its impact on user data protection.
Microsoft has since informed ICO that it has made a series of changes to address the concerns. ICO noted that it would continue to assess Recall as it approaches its new launch.
New Privacy Measures Introduced
In response to feedback, Microsoft has stripped out several controversial features of the tool and implemented additional security measures. For instance, screenshots and related data will be encrypted, and Recall will now require biometric login credentials to access its data. Sensitive information, such as credit card details, will not be captured by default.
Pavan Davuluri, Microsoft’s corporate vice president of Windows and devices, emphasized that Recall is now an opt-in experience. “Windows offers tools to help you control your privacy and customize what gets saved for you to find later he said.
Despite the assurances, the company has acknowledged that diagnostic data from the tool may still be shared with Microsoft depending on individual privacy settings, raising ongoing concerns about how the tool will handle personal information.
Cybersecurity Expert Urges Caution
Cybersecurity experts have cautiously welcomed changes to Recall. Professor Alan Woodward, a cybersecurity specialist at Surrey University, said additional privacy measures are a significant improvement but urged users to remain cautious. Before any functionality like Recall is deployed, security and privacy aspects will need to be comprehensively tested, Woodward noted. He added that he would not personally opt-in until the tool had been thoroughly tested by the public.
Microsoft hopes that with these revisions, Recall will provide users with a powerful tool for retrieving important information while mitigating privacy risks. However, many will likely wait to see how the tool performs in real-world use before embracing it fully.
