Microsoft's new Recall AI will take screenshots of everything you do
Even Microsoft isnt even trying any longer to hide the fact: that Windows is spyware.
Marketing the spyware as its greatest feature now.
https://x.com/tsarnick/status/1792680674060832829
This will be preaching to the choir for some readers.
Most do not need another reason not to use Windows.
Microsoft's new Recall AI will take screenshots of everything you do.
Spyware openly advertised as a "service". Microsoft's pushing AI into everything.
No, I'm not clickbaity.
As Microsoft actually said:
"Recall uses Copilot+ PC advanced processing capabilities to take images of your active screen every few seconds"
and not only just on their new ARM PCs, they said it will roll out to x86 platforms too via a Windows update.
Basically, just some fancy-pants AI search going over everything you've done the last 3 months.
Microsoft do say the storage is local to your device, and is "protected using data encryption on your device" and even using BitLocker if you're on Windows 11 Pro or an enterprise Windows 11 SKU. Microsoft also claim it doesn't share it anywhere else, at all, no advertisers or Microsoft themselves.
But, how far do we trust data being fed into a black-box AI that no one can really see what it's doing huh?
That's the "cool" about AI, the engineers themselves know shit about it - it is a black box -> not knowing what it exactly does -> not Microsoft wanting to spy, just some tolerance for the "AI" ;)
And here's the thing:
straight from their own FAQ (scroll down) it notes how
"Recall does not perform content moderation" and it will "not hide information such as passwords or financial account numbers"
Oh wow, sound great for privacy, doesnt it ?
But don't worry it
"does not take snapshots of certain kinds of content, including InPrivate web browsing sessions in Microsoft Edge" and "material protected with digital rights management (DRM)"
is also protected. We can't have Netflix or Disney getting annoyed with it taking a shot of that movie you watched, nope.
;)
What happens if someone else gets access to your device?
Lost, stolen, sold (and you forgot to wipe) and so on.
If you get hacked, they'll end up seeing everything, it's another major attack point.
Yeah great it's stored on your device (if we believe Microsoft), but people and companies get broken open all the time, malicious orgs will have a real party with your data.
There's plenty of other times people may end up with access to your device.
No thanks. I'll pass, forever. I never want this. It feels creepy and gross.
Wow, the end of the complete video ^ was unbelievably cringe.
The Year of Linux is near. I can feel it...
ALSO
Many users are experiencing to find photos on new devices, which they have deleted LONG AGO (in many cases nearly a decade ago)
Mainly concerning Apple's iCloud - which obviously does not really delete your data/ photos when clicking on it. And having some bugs to even show users their OLD DELETED photos on NEW devices.
:D
