Microsoft announced on Friday that it will disable its controversial AI-powered Recall feature by default and make it an opt-in choice.
Recall, currently in preview and available exclusively on Copilot+ PCs starting June 18, 2024, captures screenshots every five seconds to create an “explorable visual timeline” for users.
This feature faced immediate criticism from the security and privacy community for lacking adequate safeguards against potential breaches of privacy.
Users can now have complete control over Recall’s functionality, with added security measures and the option to opt out of saving screenshots at regular intervals.
Microsoft emphasized that Recall snapshots are stored locally on the device and are not shared with any other companies or applications.
This reversal of course by Microsoft is part of its commitment to prioritizing security in light of recent security challenges faced by the company.
Users on managed work devices have the option to disable Recall, with IT administrators having control over this feature in enterprise environments.
Security researcher Kevin Beaumont, a vocal critic of Recall, praised the changes made by Microsoft and emphasized the importance of giving users the choice to opt-in to such features.
Microsoft’s decision to disable Recall by default aligns with its Secure Future Initiative, which prioritizes security above all other considerations.
