Microsoft delays the controversial Recall feature

Microsoft will be releasing its new Copilot Plus PCs next week, but without the controversial Recall feature that captures screenshots of user activities. The company has decided to hold off on including Recall in order to test it with the Windows Insider program. Initially, Microsoft had intended to offer Recall as an optional feature with enhanced security measures, but has now chosen to delay its launch.

Windows Insiders will be able to try Windows Recall “in the coming weeks,” but only on Copilot+ devices. The updated official blog post reveals extra details.

Update: June 13, 2024: Today, we are communicating an additional update on the Recall (preview) feature for Copilot+ PCs. Recall will now shift from a preview experience broadly available for Copilot+ PCs on June 18, 2024, to a preview available first in the Windows Insider Program (WIP) in the coming weeks. Following receiving feedback on Recall from our Windows Insider Community, as we typically do, we plan to make Recall (preview) available for all Copilot+ PCs coming soon.  

When Recall (preview) becomes available in the Windows Insider Program, we will publish a blog post with details on how to get the preview. To try Recall (preview) WIP customers will need a Copilot+ PC due to our hardware requirements. We look forward to hearing Windows Insider feedback.   

 

Recall uses AI models integrated into Windows 11 to capture most content displayed or interacted with on your computer. This feature allows you to easily search for and access items you've previously viewed. A user-friendly timeline enables you to navigate through these captured snapshots, providing a convenient way to review your activities on a specific day using your PC.

Importantly, Recall is designed to prioritize the security and privacy of your data by keeping all information locally stored on your device, without utilizing any data for training Microsoft's AI models.

Microsoft recently published the privacy overview of the Recall feature, promising secure data processing. Originally planned to be released before the launch of Copilot+ devices on June 18, 2024, these plans are now revised. In response to criticism, the company promised to improve the security of the Recall feature.

Earlier, security experts discovered that user data collected by Recall was stored unencrypted. In the current implementation, Recall is considered a privacy invasion and insecure by many.

Source