I uploaded a photo on my phone to Microsoft’s “OneDrive” file-hosting app — and there was a surprise waiting under Privacy and Permissions. “OneDrive uses AI to recognize faces in your photos…”
And…
“You can only turn off this setting 3 times a year.”
If I moved the slidebar for that setting to the left (for “No”), it moved back to the right, and said “Something went wrong while updating this setting.” (Apparently it’s not one of those three times of the year.)
The feature is already rolling out to a limited number of users in a preview, a Microsoft publicist confirmed to Slashdot. (For the record, I don’t remember signing up for this face-recognizing “preview”.) But there’s a link at the bottom of the screen for a “Microsoft Privacy Statement” that leads to a Microsoft support page, which says instead that “This feature is coming soon and is yet to be released.” And in the next sentence it’s been saying “Stay tuned for more updates” for almost two years…
A Microsoft publicist agreed to answer Slashdot’s questions…
Slashdot: What’s the reason OneDrive tells users this setting can only be turned off 3 times a year? (And are those any three times — or does that mean three specific days, like Christmas, New Year’s Day, etc.)
[Microsoft’s publicist chose not to answer this question.]
Slashdot: If I move the slidebar to the left (for “No”), it moves back to the right, and says “Something went wrong while updating this setting.” So is it correct to say that there’s no way for users to select “No” now?
Microsoft: We haven’t heard about the experience you are having with toggling, but our Microsoft contacts would like to investigate why this is happening for you. Can you share what type of device you are using, so we can put you in touch with the right team?
Slashdot: Is this feature really still “coming soon”? Can you give me more specific details on when “soon” will be?
Microsoft: This feature is currently rolling out to limited users in a preview so we can learn and improve. We have nothing more to share at this time.
Slashdot: I want to confirm something about how this feature is “yet to be released.” Does this mean that currently OneDrive is not (and has never) used AI to “recognize” faces in photos?
Microsoft: Privacy is built into all Microsoft OneDrive experiences. Microsoft OneDrive services adhere to the Microsoft Privacy Statement and follow Microsoft’s compliance with General Data Protection Regulation and the Microsoft EU Data Boundary.
Slashdot: Some privacy advocates prefer “opt-in” features, but it looks like here OneDrive is planning a (limited) opt-out feature. What is the reasoning for going with opt-out rather than opt-in?
Microsoft: Microsoft OneDrive inherits privacy features and settings from Microsoft 365 and SharePoint, where applicable.
Slashdot also spoke to EFF security/privacy activist Thorin Klosowski, who expressed concerns. “Any feature related to privacy really should be opt-in and companies should provide clear documentation so its users can understand the risks and benefits to make that choice for themselves.”
Microsoft’s “three times a year” policy also seemed limiting to Klosowski. “People should also be able to change those settings at-will whenever possible because we all encounter circumstances were we need to re-evaluate and possibly change our privacy settings.”