Data regulator looking into Microsoft’s AI Recall feature

22 May 2024, 11:54

Microsoft new equiment
Microsoft new equiment. Picture: PA

The tool, which takes screenshots every few seconds to power an in-depth search feature, has raised privacy concerns among some experts.

The UK’s data protection watchdog is “making inquiries” with Microsoft over a new feature that can take screenshots of a user’s computer every few seconds.

It is part of a new tool called Recall, which uses the screenshots and artificial intelligence to look back through a user’s past activity to offer an enhanced way to search through a device.

Microsoft has said users have privacy control options around the tool – which will be exclusive to its new AI-powered Copilot+ PCs – that can limit the screenshots collected, but it has still raised privacy concerns.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) told the BBC that firms must “rigorously assess and mitigate risks to peoples’ rights and freedoms” before bringing new products to market.

The data protection regulator said it was “making inquiries with Microsoft to understand the safeguards in place to protect user privacy”.

In its launch for Recall, Microsoft said Recall worked locally, with the AI-powered processing taking place on-device to boost security, and will not capture screenshots of private web browsing sessions.

In a blog post published when the feature was announced on Monday, Microsoft said: “Recall leverages your personal semantic index, built and stored entirely on your device.

“Your snapshots are yours; they stay locally on your PC. You can delete individual snapshots, adjust and delete ranges of time in Settings, or pause at any point right from the icon in the System Tray on your Taskbar.

“You can also filter apps and websites from ever being saved. You are always in control with privacy you can trust.”

But Jake Moore, global cybersecurity adviser at software security firm Eset, said the creation and storage of more private data through the feature could be an enticing prospect for cyber criminals.

“Enabling a feature which has the ability to capture screen data not only offers even more data to the company behind the software but also opens up another avenue for criminals to attack,” he said.

“Whilst this feature is not on by default, users should be mindful of allowing any content to be analysed by AI algorithms for a better experience.

“Although it may produce better results, there is a balance that must be kept regarding functionality versus privacy and so users must remain aware of the potential risks should any sensitive data ever become compromised.

“Creating and storing more private data seems unnecessary when cyber criminals continually look for any given vulnerability to exploit.”

By Press Association

More Technology News

See more More Technology News

Zara Mohammed comments

Elon Musk’s X looking for cash from investors – report

Studio

University launches multimillion-pound creative industry studio

Signage on the side of an Uber car

Meta and Uber among firms ‘linked’ to alleged corporate migrant worker abuse

Disposable vapes of varying flavours on sale in a store

Campaign to warn teenagers about vaping addiction

The X logo is seen on a smartphone screen

Irish Independent publisher takes legal action against X over ‘fake ads’

Elon Musk

Police quash claims armed ‘migrant mob’ stormed hospital after Elon Musk reposts fake AI-generated image

A DeepSeek page seen on a smartphone screen

DeepSeek accused of sharing user data with TikTok owner ByteDance

(L to R) Napier AI boss Greg Watson, Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald and Invest NI chief Kieran Donoghue in Belfast

London AI firm announces 106 jobs for Belfast

A man lying in bed, looking tired

Scientists develop smart pyjamas to monitor sleep conditions at home

E-scooters are currently illegal to use on the public highways including pavements.

E-scooters blamed for 'shocking' surge in uninsured teen riders with 2,000% increase in offences

Elon Musk speaks during an event in the Oval Office at the White House

Elon Musk’s xAI unveils Grok 3 model to take on ChatGPT and Google Gemini

A child’s hand pressing a key of a laptop keyboard

Children will be ‘left exposed to sexual abuse online under current safety rules’

Sophie Winkleman

Sophie Winkleman calls for AI to be kept out of classrooms

DeepSeek logo on a phone

DeepSeek usage a ‘personal choice’ for public, Government says

Technology

Community Fibre broadband service restored after outage

Skyrora, a rocket company with its headquarters in Edinburgh

Scottish company promises to blast rockets into space from 2026