Big Tech Ramps Up the Creepy Factor

Recent anti-privacy actions by Samsung, Google, Apple and Microsoft serve as a reminder and warning

In an impressive convergence, the largest tech companies in the mobile space all had significant personal privacy issues in the past two weeks. We’re talking about Google, Microsoft, Samsung, and Apple. Each of these incidents serve as real life examples and warnings about the importance of keeping up to date on technology tends so you can be vigilant about protecting your personal privacy. We summarize each incident below.

Welcome to another issue of Secrets of Privacy where we discuss personal privacy related topics and provide practical tips to immediately shield your personal privacy.

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Microsoft’s Screenshot AI Tool “Recall”

First up is Mircosoft, which reveled a new AI feature for Windows users called “Recall”, which is part of its umbrella AI tool Copilot. Recall works by taking screenshots of your computer every few seconds. Microsoft analyzes the snapshots and users can use the analysis and snapshots to improve efficiencies in their work and personal lives.

Microsoft claims the data will be stored locally and encrypted. That sounds good on paper. And assuming that’s accurate, there are still some notable concerns with using this tool, some obvious and some not so obvious: