Referreport
In May 2024, Microsoft introduced its new AI function Recall for Windows 11 for the first time – and immediately encountered strong headwind. In particular Data protection officer sharply criticized the tool, which is supposed to use automatically taken snapshots to build up a kind of AI memory and thus help users search for files or other content. The criticism had an effect: the planned introduction of Recall on June 18, 2024 postponed Microsoft says it’s moving to October 2024 – in order to improve the quality of the user experience and security. Now the US manufacturer is apparently keeping its word: as in a current one Blog entry As can be seen, Recall will soon appear under much more user-friendly conditions.
Recall can be “completely removed”
Microsoft has announced that Recall will only be an opt-in function for Copilot+ PCs to publish with Windows 11. Recall is therefore not already running ex works on compatible computers, but must only be activated by interested users when setting up the computer. Anyone who is not interested in the AI feature should also be able to “completely remove” it. This is possible via the system control.
Microsoft secures snapshots
In addition, Microsoft is improving the security of the recall screenshots. Unlike the first versions of the function, Recall will not save snapshots freely accessible on the computer. Instead, the snapshots are stored encrypted. The images can only be accessed when a user confirms their identity via Windows Hello using a pin, facial recognition or a fingerprint scan. If you want, you should also be able to delete specific content from Recall’s screenshot catalog. According to Microsoft, it will also be possible to delete all collected data.
No storage of sensitive data
In addition, Microsoft is defining new rules for recordings through recall, which are intended to increase data protection. This is how the AI tool for Windows 11 For example, sensitive data such as credit card numbers, passwords or ID numbers can be filtered out of your recordings so that they are not saved. In addition, the system does not record content from private browser windows. Users can also specify specific apps and websites for which Recall should not save snapshots.
Source: German