Microsoft’s Recall Feature Returns with Enhanced Privacy Measures
In an unexpected turn of events following the initial introduction of the AI-powered Recall feature in Windows 11, Microsoft faced significant user backlash over privacy and security concerns. This prompted the tech giant to pause the rollout of the activity and screen monitoring tool, seeking to address the apprehensions voiced by its user base.
Now, Microsoft is optimistic that the enhancements made to Recall will alleviate these concerns. A new preview version of the feature is currently being distributed to select users, marking a cautious return to the spotlight.
Recall is included in the latest build of Windows 11, specifically Build 26100.3902 (KB5055627), which is available to Windows Insiders who are part of the Release Preview Channel. However, Microsoft has indicated that the rollout will be gradual, meaning not all users will receive access immediately, even if they possess the requisite Copilot+ PC.
In discussing the newly available Recall, Microsoft emphasizes its utility:
You work across so many apps, sites, and documents it can be hard to remember where you saw something you want to get back to. Recall (preview) saves you time by offering an entirely new way to search for things you’ve seen or done on your PC securely. With the AI capabilities of Copilot+ PCs, it’s now possible to quickly find and get back to any app, website, image, or document just by describing its content.
Recognizing that security and privacy were the primary issues raised by users, Microsoft has crafted a response aimed at soothing those concerns:
To use Recall, you will need to opt-in to saving snapshots, which are images of your activity, and enroll in Windows Hello to confirm your presence so only you can access your snapshots. You are always in control of what snapshots are saved and can pause saving snapshots at any time. As you use your Copilot+ PC throughout the day working on documents or presentations, taking video calls, and context switching across activities, Recall will take regular snapshots and help you find things faster and easier. When you need to find or get back to something you’ve done previously, open Recall and authenticate with Windows Hello. When you’ve found what you were looking for, you can reopen the application, website, or document, or use Click to Do to act on any image or text in the snapshot you found.
The effectiveness of these adjustments in winning over users remains to be seen. For those interested in delving deeper into the details, further information can be found on the Windows Insider Blog.
