The Dutch privacy authority, Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens (AP), has launched an investigation into Microsoft, accusing the tech giant of violating data protection regulations with Windows 10. According to the watchdog, the operating system collects user data without clearly informing users about what specific information is being sent to Microsoft's servers and for what purpose. The DPA found that, by default, Windows 10 continues to gather detailed usage data, including information about applications and web browsing activity.
Moreover, the agency pointed out that Microsoft automatically enables full telemetry settings during installation, which means a significant amount of user data is transmitted without explicit consent. The organization also criticized the fact that the Windows 10 setup process includes options for telemetry data sharing and displays personalized ads and recommendations in both the operating system and Edge browser by default. If users don’t actively adjust these settings during installation, it doesn’t imply they have agreed to such data collection practices.
In addition, the Dutch DPA highlighted that Microsoft fails to respect user privacy settings when updating to new versions of the OS. For example, systems previously configured with basic telemetry were automatically upgraded to full telemetry without any user input. This behavior, according to officials, allows Microsoft to closely monitor user activities on Windows 10 devices, raising serious concerns about transparency and user control over personal data.
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