Thursday, February 23rd 2017
EU Still Concerned about Windows 10 User Privacy
Despite Microsoft announcing changes recently to the Windows 10 installation process, Europe's biggest privacy watchdogs remain unconvinced.
A group comprised of the EU's 28 authorities responsible for enforcing the data protection law, known as the "Article 29 Working Party," asked Microsoft earlier last year to clarify how they process and handle data for various purposes, including advertising.
In a statement aimed squarely at Microsoft's recent changes, the group claimed it remained concerned chiefly about "the level of protection of users' personal data." In the same letter, the group also acknowledged and praised Microsoft's willingness to cooperate with authorities, but emphasized that they remained skeptical of the new install screen presenting users with 5 new privacy choices at install time, saying it did too little to inform the user about the specific data being collected. In the agencies own words:
"Microsoft should clearly explain what kinds of personal data are processed for what purposes. Without such information, consent cannot be informed, and therefore, not valid."
Source:
Reuters
A group comprised of the EU's 28 authorities responsible for enforcing the data protection law, known as the "Article 29 Working Party," asked Microsoft earlier last year to clarify how they process and handle data for various purposes, including advertising.
"Microsoft should clearly explain what kinds of personal data are processed for what purposes. Without such information, consent cannot be informed, and therefore, not valid."
9 Comments on EU Still Concerned about Windows 10 User Privacy
Edit: they want to know what data they are harvesting as it stands they can only get history from isp's but if that data is encrypted on a secure site then they would need a court order to get that kind of info without sine major hacking,this would be a nice backdoor for them to exploit, you carry on as long as we get access to it as well ;)
It's not an easy read.
Basically,
Private data cannot be harvested and taken out of the EU and shared with 3rd parties. This is exactly WHAT IS happening with MS Windows, email account scanning, and online "feedback"services. Companies that you have no relationship with have data on you: what you have purchased, keyword content in your emails, your browsing habits, etc.
I received an email from an unknown company in the US asking for feedback on an online purchase I made from a UK company. I contacted the UK company saying why are they giving my email address away - under EU law a company cannot give away your email address unless you agree to "3rd party contact". The UK company denied they did... but it was their very "feedback ratings" outsourced service that was doing this. The CEO of the company did not know the IT department were doing this - and made threatening remarks to me when I left "feedback" that appeared automagically on their website. Rude and unhelpful CEO and company. I contacted the US company that had the feedback service that the UK company had subscribed to. I asked data they had on me. They were very helpful and sent me a list. I was stunned to see that purchases made through an ebay store in UK had been linked to shirts I had bought from a UK online store had been linked to car parts I had bought online. All there, in a list, linked. They also had data on dates, quantities, prices and payment methods.
THAT is what the EU is asking about / and if MS doesn't fess up, then under EU law that becomes implemented in May 2018, they can fine up to EURO 20 million, or 4 percent of annual turnover, whichever is larger.