Microsoft Begins Rollout of Controversial AI Screenshot Feature ‘Recall’

Microsoft has commenced the preview rollout of its AI-powered screen-tracking tool, Recall, which captures snapshots of users’ screens at intervals, prompting renewed concerns over digital privacy.

Available to select users enrolled in Microsoft’s Windows Insider testing programme, the feature is part of the new Copilot+ suite for AI-enabled PCs and laptops. It marks a relaunch of the previously shelved tool that faced backlash in 2024 for its potential to compromise user privacy.

Recall operates by taking periodic images of a user’s screen, allowing them to search past activity, including viewed websites, emails, documents, and conversations. Microsoft describes the tool as a productivity enhancer – enabling users to, for example, quickly locate an item they previously saw online.

However, critics have raised fresh concerns about its implications for privacy. Digital rights advocate Dr. Kris Shrishak, who previously labeled the feature a “privacy nightmare,” acknowledged improvements, such as the opt-in model and local data storage. Still, he cautioned that the tool could inadvertently capture sensitive information from people who haven’t given consent.

“Information from messaging platforms like WhatsApp, including disappearing messages, could be stored indefinitely if captured by Recall,” Shrishak warned. “If someone gains access to your device, they could misuse this data.”

Microsoft insists that privacy remains a priority. The company says Recall does not share data with Microsoft or third parties and stores all snapshots locally. Users are required to verify their identity to access the feature, can exclude specific apps, and have the ability to delete stored snapshots at any time. Browsers in private mode are also exempt from the screenshot process.

The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) confirmed ongoing discussions with Microsoft, emphasizing that companies must maintain transparency and adhere to data protection laws. “We will act should they fail to safeguard people’s data protection rights,” the ICO said.

While Microsoft plans a global rollout of Recall, users in the European Union will have to wait until later in 2025 for access to the feature.