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submitted 6 months ago by lemmee_in@lemm.ee to c/technology@lemmy.world

It's a nightmare scenario for Microsoft. The headlining feature of its new Copilot+ PC initiative, which is supposed to drive millions of PC sales over the next couple of years, is under significant fire for being what many say is a major breach of privacy and security on Windows. That feature in question is Windows Recall, a new AI tool designed to remember everything you do on Windows. The feature that we never asked and never wanted it.

Microsoft, has done a lot to degrade the Windows user experience over the last few years. Everything from obtrusive advertisements to full-screen popups, ignoring app defaults, forcing a Microsoft Account, and more have eroded the trust relationship between Windows users and Microsoft.

It's no surprise that users are already assuming that Microsoft will eventually end up collecting that data and using it to shape advertisements for you. That really would be a huge invasion of privacy, and people fully expect Microsoft to do it, and it's those bad Windows practices that have led people to this conclusion.

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[-] Shelbyeileen@lemmy.world 16 points 6 months ago

My bigger concern is that almost every company now has it in their contracts/terms of services, that all users are not allowed to participate in a lawsuit, be it class action, or court case against them Most of them even have a maximum sue limit too! There's a lot that have a rule that initial arbitration cannot have a lawyer, but that won't be enforced.

[-] Aecosthedark@lemmy.world 15 points 6 months ago

Is that a valid and enforceable clause though, even if i clicked "i agree"?

[-] asdfasdfasdf@lemmy.world 12 points 6 months ago

It should be illegal to include unenforceable clauses in any TOS or contract since it deceitfully implies it means something.

[-] Crashumbc@lemmy.world 4 points 6 months ago

Should be, yes. I'm pretty sure it's not in the US though. It's pretty common here.

[-] Nommer@sh.itjust.works 3 points 6 months ago

Of course not. But it won't stop them from trying or spending billions on legal fees to avoid paying out a tiny fraction of that.

[-] ripcord@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago
[-] Wiz@midwest.social 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Sorry, this may be unpopular, but software license click-through agreements are enforceable.

Source: I'm not a lawyer, but worked in a software contracts office with lawyers, so some of it ruined off. Essentially your legal options are, use the software according to the license agreement, or don't use the software.

A third option would be, I guess, use open source software so you don't deal with that bullshit.

Edit: Part of it is wrapped up in the Uniform Commercial Code, which is a whole bundle of standard laws which is quite complex. Basically you pays your money, and you get a thing, but there are all sports of knobs and levers to handle every contingency. You can nope out of the transaction, but you don't get the thing.

this post was submitted on 08 Jun 2024
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