The infamous Recall feature is back, though the return will be through limited testing before it gets re-released back to eligible Windows 11 Copilot+ PC-certified systems. The feature was initially retracted from launch after massive privacy concerns stemmed from the feature’s implementation.
Recall Returns
In the updated blog post, Microsoft stated that Recall “will be available to Windows Insiders starting in October.” It’s no surprise that the software giant will be taking a more cautious approach this time around, which will first roll out the feature to Windows Insider users for limited testing. However, no further timeline was specified, so the full release date remains unclear at this point.
In case you need a refresher, Recall was embroiled in privacy controversy as the feature is effectively designed to watch every action you’ve done on your PC, by screenshotting the on-screen content every few seconds. As it can’t differentiate between different types of content, this means your password may get inadvertently recorded as well – making matters worse, the feature is originally designed as opt-out instead of opt-in, while the recorded data takes up significant disk space, whilst remain largely unprotected.
The feature was originally scheduled to launch in June along with the debut of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series, but the controversy meant Microsoft has pulled the feature back while these Copilot+ PCs are left with only several very minor exclusive features that taps into the onboard NPUs (neural processing units). Microsoft has since reassured that the re-release will be opt-in, and the data will only remain accessible through mandatory Windows Hello authentication.
Source: PCMag
Pokdepinion: I still feel uneasy about this feature – all it takes is an exploit for everything to go haywire.
