Microsoft’s controversial Windows Recall feature is coming back in October
If you thought that Microsoft was done with Recall after its catastrophic reveal as the main feature of Copilot+ PCs, you are mistaken.
Microsoft wants to bring it back this October 2024. Good news is that the company plans to introduce it in test builds of the Windows 11 operating system in October. In other words: do not expect the feature to hit stable Windows 11 PCs before 2025 at the earliest.
A quick recap of events
Microsoft announced Windows Recall in May 2024 originally. The feature was initially enabled by default on compatible systems to capture a screenshot every few seconds. It would then use AI to analyze the screenshots and give users the option to interact with that content.
You could ask the AI about previous activities on the PC and it would look through the screenshots to find it.
While that may have sounded great on paper and on work-related PCs, users and experts alike expressed concern. Users expressed fears that malware could steal Recall data to know exactly what they did in the past couple of months.
While Recall was designed to block taking screenshots of certain activities, these were fairly limited. The feature could, in its initial form, take screenshots of passwords, if you used the option to show them, credit card numbers, and other personal information. It would also know about your browsing habits, which shows you would watch, and anything else that you would do while using the PC.
Others did not trust Microsoft to keep the data secure. We suggested to make Recall opt-in, instead of opt-out, to make sure that users knew what they were getting into when enabling it.
Microsoft pulled the Recall feature shortly after its announcement and published information about its future in June. There, Microsoft said that it would make Recall opt-in by default. It also wanted to improve security by enrolling in Windows Hello and other features.
Furthermore, it pledged to give Insiders the ability to test Recall before launch. This was neglected previously.
Microsoft plans
The update to June's blog post puts a timestamp on the return of Recall. October 2024 will see its integration in Windows 11 Insider builds. The feature will only be available on Insider builds that meet the Copilot+ PCs requirements. Microsoft reiterates that security will be its top priority.
Google launched a similar feature recently for its Pixel 9 devices. Called Pixel Screenshots, it is also an AI feature that is analyzing screenshots so that users may recall information found in those screenshots at any time.
Unlike Recall, which at this time is still taking screenshots automatically when enabled, Pixel Screenshots works with manual screenshots.
Microsoft plans to provide additional information in October when the new Recall launches in test builds of the Windows 11 operating system.
What is your take on Recall? Do you think that Microsoft is making the right decision to cling to it and launch it in the future?
Microsoft has lost its mind.
My take on this is I do not plan to upgrade to windows 11and will be using 0Patch for the foreseeable future. I am not looking to have any AI on my PC’s at all.
That is terrible. I hoped this atrocity never saw the light of day, and that everyone in charge of Windows 11 would be sacked. Microsoft requires a new team of outstanding developers for Windows like Windows 7 had. I assumed they simply hired any untalented intern from the streets in 2020, and Windows 11 was the result.
Hurray, it’s back! As a Linux user, I look forward to laughing at Recall from a safe distance. I wonder if I have predicted all of the ways it will go spectacularly wrong.
My only complaint is that they won’t be enabling Recall by default for everyone, which was the original design. *sniff sniff*
But since it’s Microsoft, six months from now they will probably make Recall mandatory, and the only way to shut it off will be to edit the registry, and updates will revert the edits and enable it again.
What could possibly go wrong? Microsoft has an impeccable record of robust, well-tested, bug-free software.
Just seems like Microsoft is asking for troubles with Recall and should not be adding to questions of security risks or privacy issues.
A glorified user-spying attempt. AI-glorified to be exact, as most everything is these days.
My take is “Avoid like the plague” and a secondary take is “Start planning your Linux migration”.
This is a very good comment, however a massive Linux migration is more than impossible.
ai and Recall have now let hackers in to banks that use them ai and Recall have been hacked this month by hackers jail them all
So, then, your boss installs a camera that looks over your shoulder pointed at your monitor recording everything you do. Who would put up with this?
There are so many laws this violates in the EU its hard to believe it will not be litigated to death.
Elsewhere, meh, we own you at our workplace so stuff it.
George Orwell is feeling vindicated yet again.
Orwell’s descendant should sue for copyright infringement :p
“Elsewhere, meh, we own you at our workplace so stuff it” They do in fact.
If you are “at work”, “your boss” is the arbiter of your work effort. You have an defacto employment contract. Do you get that?
And yes, they do own you (your status as employee) and the time you are there, even if you work from home, and in some cases when you’re off the clock. Think about, they pay you for your time with money!
45 RPM: stop spouting such childish nonsense. Accept the fact you can’t change anything.
Imagine getting a job at google, see how long you last with their employment policies and the woke mindset. Think you could survive that? Talk about zombies.
Or wait until Klaus Schwab & Co., get a hold of you.
The European Union has become another big brother, now if you think differently here you are censored almost immediately. This is why the EU is against Elon Musk and his X app. Here in Europe there is only freedom while you think as the elites in Brussels want. We are just a blue flag with many stars that means nothing, on the way to crashing against itself and its enormous political blindness: without the people there will never be justice, as Orwell himself said once.
I prefer how Microsoft is doing things, with no shame and looking to your eyes.
At least Microsoft has the decency to not lie to you while screwing you up.
@John G.
> “The European Union has become another big brother (…)”
How can anyone possibly state such nonsense when it’s all the other way : the European Union is perhaps the only political entity striving to defend the users’ rights, in particular in the digital area.
Must we consider that attacking the attacker is censoring his rights? This is typically the argument of the ultra-liberals who consider that any intervention on their activities is an extreme-left not to say communist behavior, that anything meant to defend users from their monopolies and related activities is censorship? If I take the defense of a child, of a woman, of anyone being attacked, am I attempting to the attacker’s rights ?
What the heck is this mentality increasingly spreading everywhere : let the strong beat the weak, because life is a jungle, because that’s the way life goes and progresses? This is walking backwards on the path of evolution : remember, if we are animals we are the only ones with a conscious. No need to be a leftist and even less a communist to understand the essential property of mankind : brotherhood. Those who behave differently are animals, smart animals but animals, and those who value their behavior are totally off-track of what mankind is, or meant to be.
Sometimes your comments really stun me, especially when I start to know you a tiny bit given your other comments which are most of the time inspired by what seems to be a humanist vision of the world.
@Tom Hawack, if you think that the EU is full of rights and wellfare, you only need to see what is happening in France now. My humanist vision of the world is fully compatible with the fear of the political storm that it’s coming. We are not animals, we are only photos and time mixed in a short book of laughs and pain. Do believe me, there is no innocent or weak people, neither guilty or strong one, there is only a false perception of law and social justice, written by blind politicians for decades. And now the future of Europe has only two choices, security or freedom, and only one will be given. In which side will you stay when “they” decide to close the doors of democracy, in or out? With some regards, JG.
@John G., I have to disagree with your analysis.
I’m in France and aware of problems, those related to the EU as well as those related to the country itself.
There are several political storms world-wide and one that concerns Europe is as well one that concerns many countries world-wide : the winds of nationalism.
> “We are not animals, we are only photos and time mixed in a short book of laughs and pain”
This is a very personal statement which appears to be related to a persona (temporary I hope) lmood rather than to a rational approach.
> “there is no innocent or weak people, neither guilty or strong one, there is only a false perception of law and social justice, written by blind politicians for decades.”
We have different responsibilities depending on our aims and activities, but should there be no more innocence than guilt that we wouldn’t strive to distinguish them. We may all be guilty as innocent in different areas of our lives, the point has never been to consider innocence and guilt as a static component of existence of each of us, but specific to a specific scenario. In this regard I may be guilty of not paying my taxes yet innocent when facing a techno-giant determined to peek and poke into my life : the debate is in the area of Earth, not in that of the Heavens.
We may mistake in our perception of law and social justice, and these two may mistake in the way they carry out. No perfection on Earth, but aspirations, and aspirations need references, and references happen to change : life is dynamic, not static, but to be dynamic means that each and every one of us intervenes, hopefully with pacific tools, with consistency, with respect but with determination. I cannot fail to keep my chin up on the basis that hope would have vanished and, moreover, when living in a free world, free not meaning exempt of flaws but only that I may share my beliefs. Do we realize that there are regimes on this planet where I couldn’t have written half of what I’ve just wrote ?
I cannot agree with your condemnation of what virtue there can be on the grounds of what vice there is, no more than I can agree on a general condemnation of politicians, politics, laws. This world is dynamic, nothing is frozen. From there on, as I said, we of course all have different scopes given our responsibilities tied to our social ranks. What remains reachable for everyone is — at least — to not add confusion to chaos (when chaos there is) by being unfriendly, rude, egoistic in our relationships be it at Level 0 : I’d perceive a paradox should I condemn a modern life all aimed at extreme profit and at the same time ignore a bum asking for charity. I may not be able to change the world immediately but I can certainly spare time, a smile and a buck or two for someone who needs them all.
Have a nice day, John G., and never abandon yourself to defeatism.
@John G.
Elon’s the one saying 2+2=5. He’s a conman and a charlatan. It’s unfortunate people fall for cult leaders like him. Him and his irk are not the good guys and throughout history never have been.
In addition, there absolutely is shame in Microsoft looking into your eyes and wilfully incorporating an InfoStealer directly into the operating system – despite overwhelmingly negative feedback.
@Brad, the day Elon Musk closes X, the world will return to the stone age.
Furthermore, 2+2=5 if one is pregnant. Smile, it’s not an UK two tier joke.
@John G
I think the world would do fine with one less social media company. Stop shilling for big tech.
@Anonymous, please then start with Facebook.
John G: censorship is bad
Also John G: Lets shut down Facebook.
@traeh nori, I dislike all kind of censorship. By the way I dislike entire Facebook too. It’s the kingdom of hyprocrisy, lies, social stupidity, falsehood, envy and people boasting about their supposed happiness. Mainly.
@John G
Why stop with Facebook?
@Anonymous, Facebook should be stopped because it’s not good for mental health. And about the probably Russian influence in this social media, just let’s talk other day. Or not. I am not very interested in Zuckenberg’s lies.
omg what a brainsick nonsense. paranioa + hyperbolism much? “elites” / “censored?” – you have clearly no clue what censorship means. and you seem to mistake spreading fake news or hate speech with right to speak. x since musk became a shithole of those above, hatespeech, fake news and intentionally placed wrong information – and musk is one of them who spreads that nonsense for his own agenda. to get a cure, go to russia, tell something bad about putin, then see what true censorship means (and stay away from open windows) Or go to china and do your protests like the yellowvests in france – in europe its 10000 protesters, in china its 10000 ppl missing.
@Anonymous, Before Elon Musk, Twitter was a dumpster controlled by one side, and now it is a dumpster controlled by nobody. That’s the little difference, do you know? You talk about hate speech… From whom? From where? Only one side is bad and the other side is a friend of love? Do you really think so? And yes, here in Europe there is a lot of censorship, it is almost impossible to talk about serious things and very difficult to publish your thoughts because the media is politically controlled. All. Three months ago my father wrote to a major newspaper telling the huge difficulties that Europe imposes on farmers and his letter was rejected. Meanwhile newspapers publish everything that is favorable to Brussels.
Here in my region, farmers have lost almost 400M euros since the beginning of 2024, all due to the imposition of tariffs, immense bureaucratic controls over the whole work, absurd price increases due to foreign products, with dozen of taxes and a thousand other things. There is no point in protesting. That’s why I say that Microsoft does what it wants, but at least it doesn’t lie to you, you know that the MS’s product is deficient but you don’t expect it to defend you all, because Microsoft doesn’t work for you. However, politicians, on the other hand, do. And if these same politicians finally don’t help you at the end, if they censor you and prevent you from decently living, what can you expect?
Which kind of freedom is better in your opinion? Windows Recall or Silent Censorship?
You can’t be serious to complain about Windows Recall while being screwed up in silence in some other ways! And how you dare to talk about freedom in Russia when the UK is blocking all divergent opinions at the web? Just try to post something in the main UK newspapers!
There’s far less censorship in Europe (though, there is in member countries controlled by far-right politicians) than in the States. From my experience practically anything may be said, shown in Europe, all ideas expressed, when in the U.S. puritanism and anti-socialist phobia is the pretext to quite a deal of censorship. What you relate of your dad’s experience must very well be an exception because there are always censors even in a free-speech world.
The States gives you a feeling of freedom, factually true when you remain out of the boundaries of limits never to trespass : nudity (should it be the work of an artist), sex (the remaining of GOPuritanism striving to get their mad concepts back on track), political orientations (speak of, defend white supremacists at a dinner table is no problem, evoke communism and you’re out of the game, even if evoking it in terms of intellectual considerations).
America has nothing against hate-speech, it’s considered as a natural fact in the flow of a natural excessively violent society.
Here in Europe we value what deteriorates human relationships, and hate speech is of the lot.
I write this as not an anti-America. I love America, Americans in particular, and I know many Americans who criticize some aspects of the way their country is moving, especially the Democrats who’s culture i’ve been acquainted to when living 6 years in Queens, NY. And they were NO communists, i can tell you! But, be we Americans or not, no need to be a wizard to understand that America is facing big challenges in terms of social justice and management of monopolies which strive to embrace not only America but the whole planet. The EU strives, in a difficult position between Western and Eastern world, to maintain fundamental rights wherever it can. Of course it happens to mistake, of course it happens to please lobbies, of course there are scandals, but that doesn’t defeat what Europe is, fundamentally and, in my vision, the most advanced, the most civilized entity of this planet.
So, let the worst be or let the worst be prevented?
Less censorship in Europe? Now that is what we Americans call a whopper of a lie.
So why did European Union Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton THREATEN
Elon Musk? An American citizen no less.
What about the Kier Starmers’ threat against British citizens last week?
What did Nancy Fraser do to Compact Magazine recently?
You can’t see the contradiction? Less censorship in Europe – that’s just plain nuts man.
The EU long ago lost touch with reality.
@Bill
EU denied Breton had approval to send the letter to Elon Musk, says “Thierry has his own mind and way of working and thinking.”
https://www.ft.com/content/09cf4713-7199-4e47-a373-ed5de61c2afa?trk=public_post_comment-text
“What about the Kier Starmers’ threat against British citizens last week?”
“The EU long ago lost touch with reality.”
Britain is not part of the EU.
“Now that is what we Americans call a whopper of a lie”
Americans haven’t said that since 1952.
Also, of all those names you listed, most Americans don’t know who they are, especially European Union Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton and Nancy Fraser whoever she is, nor do they know what Compact Magazine is. Maybe they are all well known in Russia, but not in the U.S.
@Bill from Chicago IL USA,
For one, evoking a lie is rude when what we disagree with could be qualified as a mistake.
For two, what does anyone know about his fellow citizens : “we Americans” … how dare you speak in the name of all?! I personally know several US citizens living in the USA who’d disagree with your disagreements :)
For three, the examples you provide have nothing to do with censorship, to threaten is not censorship.
Lastly, there is obviously an open war between the EU and several major US major companies, and not only in the digital arena. All this is relevant of major differences in terms of freedom and protection from freedom excesses between the EU and major US corporations, far more than between the EU and the USA given that USA itself (government, justice) regularly engages trials with these fat and omnipotent entities.
A war is not censorship, fighting for human privacy and dignity is not censorship.
Of course you’ll always have individuals, companies striving to have their opponents shut their mouth, and even EU countries do so when led by far-right totalitarian regimes, it’s called diversity and diversity deployment within a federation, same as the US which have states against abortion and others (when not the same) in favor of the death sentence, yet who’d dare assert that these state specifics are relevant of a country aiming to be civilized? Same in Europe, you’ll always have retarded mentalities here and there but globally, in terms of culture, Europe is far more open-minded, censorship-free than an America which hasn’t yet liberated itself from puritanism and socialism phobia. That’s how it is at this time. But things move and from what I know there are winds of progress in the States, mentalities are shifting to a form of enlightenment. Nice country, beautiful ideals, but hasn’t still understood that freedom, when practiced without ethics, is to be controlled given the damage it happens to imply.
Have a nice day.
“There’s far less censorship in Europe”. That is the stupidest statements I have ever heard in my life.TH, you clearly have IT skills, but anything outside that realm you are woefully ignorant.
Now assuming you are right (“less censorship…”), then one has to assume you are able to assess numerous government activities that are unavailable to the public. Also assumes you are fluent in more than 15 languages and have extraordinary interpretive skills in those languages and have access to all European governments’ internal secrets. Or maybe you can read and interpret 20-30 international newspapers in their original languages and parse the politics of the left and right. You simply can’t. It’s impossible. Or you just spout leftist propaganda.
Seriously TH? Stick to IT, leave politics to others. You embarrass yourself with such ignorant comments.
@efromme, do you know Europe, its diversity, its cultures, have you lived in Europe?
I’ve traveled quite a lot, integrating myself in different cultures, discovering on the ground specifics and differences.
I’m not sure you need to be fluent in countries’ languages unless to communicate with people. You do need to have studied history, psychologies, sociology of your points of interest together with remaining informed of the realities in true time. You do need to have at least correspondents who will share their knowledge of their cultures, ways of life, events, political shifts and so on. No need to be a journalist nor an investigator, a good address book filled with reliable contacts is a haven of information.
This being said, any comment and mine are no exception are to be tuned or even denied, but the argument has to be as consistent as the one we aim to criticize. I linger to read your approach of censorship, why you’d consider that stating that there is far less censorship in Europe is “stupid”. This sort of consideration cannot be stupid, though it can be erroneous, in which case an explanation would be welcomed. Going around like a red-haired ex-president replacing arguments with “she’s stupid” (regarding his opponent) is becoming a bother for everyone, GOP included. Have your word, have it if not documented at least tied to an argument :)
@Tom Hawack, well, your arguments should be good for mostly all people. However here in Europe we had two bloody World Wars, and the United States came here to help Europe at all cost. Millions of US citizens gave their lifes, their strenght and their souls… just to see how now the Europe wellfare is wasted in nonsense. Pure shame on us, don’t you think?
@John G., I’m not at all into a whatever anti-Americanism, I’ve only pointed out what I conceived, at this time, to be the worst, as I could have and actually do as well for cultures & counties I happen to know, France, my country, as well. Unless to mistake patriotism and nationalism I believe we all try to be objective, for our very country included.
Two bloody World wars indeed and thankfulness for GIs, for all Americans as well as for all citizens who sacrificed their lives as well as for those who risked them : many countries participated to the liberation of Europe. Yet we can emphasize on that this eternal thankfulness concerns those who where on the battlefields, who conducted the battles and far less if not at all for an administration which then (as always perhaps) was motivated before all by geopolitical concerns as well as by the long-term return on investment of the military-industrial complex : the Marshall Plan has allowed the USA to print American influence in all stages of European development for decades.
Again, a nation, its people is one thing, State, deep State administrations is another, and wondering about a gap between the honorable aspirations of the pilgrims, their eager, determination and success to carry out a new country based on the concepts of a free, new world and … what may become of these ideals is not, IMO, illegitimate.
@Tom Hawack, indeed I share sometimes your optimism and also your clear vision of life, probably due to your age. I am younger than you for sure, and I see everyday how the european youth is lost even surrounded by the higher amount of rights in History. Human rights or any kind of right mean nothing if your own (or mine) nation doesn’t apply them to protect its own youth giving them tools for the future. Furthermore there is no choice when you can see how your parents are living worse than a couple of years just to make good the external economy of other non UE countries.
Returning to the topic, finally, why MS Recall can be considered an offense to privacy if the entire product should be the real offense to the user’s privacy? Why Recall is worse than W11 itself? The UE is writing useless laws all day long, doing nothing to favor the own UE software or hardware. You made reference to the former Marshall Aid plan, but anyway everything from the US is mostly some minor “Marshall” plans, like Microsoft and Apple. They both have contributed to the entire world’s development. They both are also bad, ugly, privacy invaders and so forth eveything you want, and they both are ruling the entire world of computing.
Security, privacy, freedom, free money for everyone… there is no greater threat to a nation than those who ask for rights without offering duties. If you can’t rule your own home, you can’t ask for more. Again, regards, JG.
OK, John G., looks like we’ve said it all, insisting would be repeating.
Here in France I often hear people complaining that life was better, easier (less tough) before than now.
I’m not sure this always corresponds to economic truth when we all know that there is a worldwide quest for happiness, happiness often defined as possession and way of life, and a latent exasperation caused by not having access to what the wealthiest have access to. There may be, and there is, true misery, but there is also a frustration fed by what wealthiness brings, by wealthiness teasers and incentives spread all over the media, as if money and what it brings had become the one and only essential aim in life. Maybe we lived better in the past, maybe were we happier also because not as tied to modern stuff as we are nowadays. If one strives to live above his income he’ll always face frustration. Again, I’m not stating that misery is fake, only that misery may not always be interpreted as what is is in the lives of those who experience it for other reasons than not being able to have the latest car, technology, clothing …
Take care, John G., and thanks for being calm and sincere.