Microsoft Corporation Denies Collecting Specific User Data Through Windows 10

Microsoft has clarified in an email that any data it collects is used to improve the customer experience, and that it has never used user-specific data







Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has refuted allegations that it is collecting specific consumer data through its ever-connected Windows 10 operating system, according to Mashable. Microsoft drafted an email response to Mashable after a report by Ars Technica looked at how Microsoft’s voice assistant, Cortana, was one of many key Windows 10 features that sent information back to Microsoft. According to the report, the information contained markers that could be used to identify specific users, hence breaching the condition of anonymity.



The latest Microsoft Corporation OS works best when connected to the internet at all times, and works through constant updates. When not updating, Windows 10 has constant access to the internet through Cortana, which uses Microsoft’s database to send back results. Microsoft’s Bing search engine also accesses the internet to retrieve responses to queries. Upon each interaction, a unique identifier is sent out that can be linked back to the user.

The Ars Technica report claimed that Microsoft and Windows exchanged the information despite the privacy settings being activated. But Microsoft emailed Mashable, clearly stating that specific data such as the search terms a user may have entered are not sent back to Microsoft. The company says that the updates are essential to bring new features such as new visuals and styles to Bing search as soon as possible. Microsoft also said that the user’s privacy settings are adhered to, both online and offline.


Microsoft has hence stated that it respects the user’s wishes and only collects the data that it is allowed to, and that too, anonymously. The news should help ease many user’s concerns; in the age of connectivity, one can expect to forgo privacy every time they venture online, but that concern does not normally arise when using devices which are not even connected to the internet. With the new Windows 10 OS, frequent updates are often enforced upon users.

The updates do improve the performance of the Windows OS, but users are advised to check their privacy settings again. Microsoft has clarified that it does not collect any information that it is not allowed to, but as is the case with most tech companies, the default settings might allow the company to collect more data than the user would like. That said, since the data is used for the most part to improve the customer experience, it might not entirely be such a bad thing at all.