Brave and AdGuard Block Microsoft’s Controversial Recall Feature
▼ Summary
– Microsoft’s Recall feature, which captures frequent screenshots on Copilot Plus PCs, is facing opposition from app developers like Signal, AdGuard, and Brave.
– AdGuard describes Recall as a “privacy concern,” citing risks like capturing private chats or credit card details without consent.
– Brave is blocking Recall by default for Windows 11+ users, citing Signal’s earlier move as inspiration, but allows users to re-enable it if desired.
– Signal criticized Microsoft for launching Recall without granular privacy controls for app developers, forcing them to use a DRM flag to block screenshots.
– Brave advocates for Microsoft to extend granular Recall controls to all privacy-focused apps, not just browsers, to better protect user data.
Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature, designed to capture frequent screenshots on Copilot+ PCs, continues facing pushback from major privacy-focused applications. The latest additions to this resistance include AdGuard and Brave, joining Signal in actively blocking the AI-powered tool over concerns about user data security.
AdGuard recently published a detailed explanation for its decision, labeling Recall as a significant privacy risk. The company argues that continuous background screen captures create unnecessary exposure, potentially logging sensitive information like private messages, financial details, or personal content without explicit consent. “The concept of unsolicited screenshots is inherently invasive,” AdGuard states, emphasizing the lack of control users have over what gets recorded.
Brave, another vocal opponent, confirmed its move was influenced by Signal’s earlier stance against Recall. The browser will disable the feature by default for Windows 11 users, though it provides an option to re-enable it for those who choose to. Brave acknowledges Microsoft’s flexibility in allowing browsers to block Recall selectively but urges the company to extend similar controls to all privacy-conscious apps.
Signal set the precedent in May by implementing a DRM-based block, preventing Recall and other screenshot tools from accessing its encrypted messaging platform. The company criticized Microsoft for not providing developers with sufficient privacy customization options, calling it a critical oversight that forces apps to take extreme measures.
While Brave benefits from Microsoft’s browser-specific permissions, it highlights the broader issue, third-party apps shouldn’t need workarounds to safeguard user privacy. The ongoing backlash suggests that unless Microsoft introduces more granular controls, additional developers may follow suit in restricting Recall’s access to their platforms.
(Source: The Verge)
