Microsoft Recall is taking screenshots of private information like credit card details and social security numbers
Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature has officially launched, but it’s already facing backlash over privacy concerns. While the company initially promised improved safeguards and a more secure user experience, users are left questioning how well those promises hold up.
After delays and updates, Recall is now available on more systems and CPU architectures. The feature, which takes screenshots of desktops every few seconds, uses an on-device language model to scan and process the captured data. In theory, this helps fine-tune Copilot’s GPT-4o AI. However, in practice, Recall raises serious concerns about privacy and security.
A review by Tom’s Hardware revealed glaring flaws in the feature. Despite having a filter meant to block sensitive information, Recall still captured screens containing credit card numbers, Social Security details, and other personal data. The problem persisted even when using basic programs like Notepad, viewing PDFs in Edge, or filling out online forms.
The filter did work under certain conditions, such as online shopping. It avoided capturing credit card details by only taking screenshots before or after users filled out payment forms. However, the fact that Recall saves highly sensitive information for AI training purposes is alarming.
Microsoft describes Recall as giving users ‘full control,’ allowing them to view saved screenshots and decide when the feature is active. But critics argue this doesn’t justify making it an opt-out feature, especially with its potential for privacy violations.
In response to concerns raised by Tom’s Hardware’s Avram Piltch, Microsoft reiterated that Recall is designed with privacy in mind and is still being improved. The company encouraged users to share feedback through its Feedback Hub to help refine the feature.
For now, experts recommend that privacy-conscious users disable Recall immediately. Until significant improvements are made, many feel this feature could do more harm than good on Microsoft’s once user-focused platform.
