Windows 11 will ask consent before sharing personal files with AI after outrage(windowslatest.com)
windowslatest.com
Windows 11 will ask consent before sharing personal files with AI after outrage
https://www.windowslatest.com/2025/12/17/microsoft-confirms-windows-11-will-ask-for-consent-before-sharing-your-personal-files-with-ai-after-outrage/
53 comments
"Enable enhanced agentic features for an enriched experience across our operating system!"
Software companies don't understand consent!
They do, they just don’t want to ask it like that because they want to hoover all your data.
They just expect enthusiastic denial of consent. Unless you actively use technology to neuter and protect yourself from their overreach, they assume you consented anyway.
Microsoft users are now the product being sold
Sold to whom?
I understand when people use that phrase about advertising, but I don't see this here.
I understand when people use that phrase about advertising, but I don't see this here.
Windows 11 has transitioned from a standalone tool into a digital storefront that prioritizes recurring revenue through aggressive prompts for Microsoft 365 and OneDrive subscriptions. By mandating cloud-based Microsoft Accounts, the OS effectively anchors your identity to a marketing ID, allowing the company to track behavior and monetize your data. The interface now functions as an advertising platform, injecting "recommended" apps and sponsored content directly into the Start menu and search results. Ultimately, this shift means users are no longer just customers of a product, but recurring assets whose attention and telemetry are sold to sustain Microsoft’s ecosystem and maximize shareholder value.
Doesn’t Windows show ads in the start menu these days?
Indirectly via advertising, this is data gathering for profile building.
A "remember this decision for X time" option by Microsoft is a bald faced lie.
I’d reformulate ‘remind me’ part to ‘force me to decide on this again in 24 hours’
This is headed for a severe backlash. Social media has broken a lot of trust, but the way AI is being deployed is taking that ball and running way further.
If someone who you thought was untrustworthy offered to sit in on your sensitive board meeting and take notes for free, would you think that was a good deal and let them do it? What about your doctor's appointment?
I really think the breaking point is close and you're going to see people figure out how to be the digital Amish and run what they need locally and live without the benefits of the rest.
If someone who you thought was untrustworthy offered to sit in on your sensitive board meeting and take notes for free, would you think that was a good deal and let them do it? What about your doctor's appointment?
I really think the breaking point is close and you're going to see people figure out how to be the digital Amish and run what they need locally and live without the benefits of the rest.
> you're going to see people figure out how to be the digital Amish and run what they need locally and live without the benefits of the rest.
I've been a large proponent of what LLMs and the transformative nature of them, but for a lot of people running these companies, it's clear that it isn't about the technology and instead about control. I've even lost some trust in my Apple products throughout this as it feels more like a matter of time that they bend to this more than they have, especially with the shakeup.
I think it's OK if people want to use these systems - but if they don't, we'll let the market speak for itself. For now, I'm out.
I've been a large proponent of what LLMs and the transformative nature of them, but for a lot of people running these companies, it's clear that it isn't about the technology and instead about control. I've even lost some trust in my Apple products throughout this as it feels more like a matter of time that they bend to this more than they have, especially with the shakeup.
I think it's OK if people want to use these systems - but if they don't, we'll let the market speak for itself. For now, I'm out.
If this is like any other of Microsoft's attempts to get you to turn on something that you clearly do not want, it will pop up a wizard every few weeks saying "please confirm your choices" and will have a weasel-worded message saying "Increase your PC's security intelligence by enabling AI-powered data validation" with two buttons: "Protect My PC" and "Ask me later".
I have a couple Windows boxes for rarely-used Windows-only software and loathe trying to navigate the monthly "Are you REALLY sure you don't want to link your iPhone to this PC? And, are you SUPER DUPER sure that Microsoft Edge shouldn't be your default browser? What about backing up all your files to OneDrive? You sure???" prompts
I have a couple Windows boxes for rarely-used Windows-only software and loathe trying to navigate the monthly "Are you REALLY sure you don't want to link your iPhone to this PC? And, are you SUPER DUPER sure that Microsoft Edge shouldn't be your default browser? What about backing up all your files to OneDrive? You sure???" prompts
This isn't a win for anyone. Windows 11 should ask consent before installing any AI feature on user's computers.
The visual language is not consistent. In the "experimental agentic features" dialog - "Turn on" (positive choice) is highlighted, yet in the "allow access to files" dialog, "not now" (negative choice) is.
This is either negligent design or intent to confuse users.
This is either negligent design or intent to confuse users.
2026: The year of the linux desktop.
No joke - I've used Windows (and a bit of OS X) my entire life and am old enough now that I didn't think I'd ever be able to switch. A few weeks back I hit the point where I had to upgrade from Windows 10 to 11 and just could not stomach the UX so in frustration I setup Kubuntu w/ Plasma... and it's been amazing. I've tried switching before without the same luck and I think agents like Claude/Codex/etc are the only reason it has stuck this time. Something that's always been unique to Linux is that if there's something I want to change I can generally do that, but now when I want something customized I can _actually_ do it instead of just slotting it into the infinite "if only I had time" bucket. There are quirks for sure (I'm looking at you, PipeWire) but the tinkery-ness of Linux on the desktop went from being friction to a super power for me just this month - maybe others will catch on next year.
KDE is SO GOOD.
I've distro hopped and DE hopped a lot before settling, but it's been amazing for me as somoeone who has switched over from Windows. It just doesn't get in the way, is super familiar for me, AND lets me do a lot of things I wish I had in Windows.
I was worried about the "choice fatigue" due to it being super configurable and all, but honestly the defaults are so sensible I haven't really had a reason to tinker with it much if at all.
I've distro hopped and DE hopped a lot before settling, but it's been amazing for me as somoeone who has switched over from Windows. It just doesn't get in the way, is super familiar for me, AND lets me do a lot of things I wish I had in Windows.
I was worried about the "choice fatigue" due to it being super configurable and all, but honestly the defaults are so sensible I haven't really had a reason to tinker with it much if at all.
+1. I switched from Pop OS to Debian + KDE last week, and KDE has been solid. I too read a handful of articles calling out the choice fatigue, and other than a few tweaks (maybe half an hour?) I was ready to go. I run old-ish hardware (circa 2013) without any issues.
Something notable is that the all the hotkeys felt 'just right'. I had to tinker a bunch in Pop OS to get satisfying hotkey combos, and the COSMIC upgrade reset them all.
Something notable is that the all the hotkeys felt 'just right'. I had to tinker a bunch in Pop OS to get satisfying hotkey combos, and the COSMIC upgrade reset them all.
Its crazy how Microsoft has created so many linux users. I am converting my windows setups to Mint over the next few weeks.
If only, this will only happen when regular consumers can get GNU/Linux desktops and laptops fully working on shops like Media Market, Saturn, FNAC, Dixons, Publico,....
Until then it will be computer nerds buying from online shops, building their own PCs, or running Linux VMs alongside Windows and macOS.
Android, ChromeOS, WebOS have succeed among users, exactly because they are consumer OSes, where the use of Linux kernel is an implementation detail, and are available everywhere.
Until then it will be computer nerds buying from online shops, building their own PCs, or running Linux VMs alongside Windows and macOS.
Android, ChromeOS, WebOS have succeed among users, exactly because they are consumer OSes, where the use of Linux kernel is an implementation detail, and are available everywhere.
The PC market doesnt care what nerds do. But the PC market has a niche that it does respond financially to, and thats gamers. Gamers have long felt the pull factor of Linux, with games becoming easier to run on the platform. But now Windows has delivered a heap of push factors, with Windows chewing more memory, and that memory being used for intrusive AI tasks.
If market forces respond as they do for gamers, we will be seeing a lot of peripheral manufacturers at least ensuring their devices are covered by a generic driver on Linux, and eventually those gamers will be installing linux on their parents computers to avoid expensive memory upgrades. Games publishers are likely to take notice. And at least small PC retailers will be offering customs without Windows, assuming a couple of the big hardware guys dont start offering it too.
I made the old joke tongue in cheek, but it does have legs tbh. This is basically a perfect storm, that any previous management at Microsoft would have fired half the business to prevent. Focusing on optimisation rather than bloat would be a better strategy. But IIRC the management of Microsoft believe the cloud is the future and were thinking desktop was dead anyway.
The conditions were set in 2025, but 2026 is probably when we will see the greatest amount of switching.
If market forces respond as they do for gamers, we will be seeing a lot of peripheral manufacturers at least ensuring their devices are covered by a generic driver on Linux, and eventually those gamers will be installing linux on their parents computers to avoid expensive memory upgrades. Games publishers are likely to take notice. And at least small PC retailers will be offering customs without Windows, assuming a couple of the big hardware guys dont start offering it too.
I made the old joke tongue in cheek, but it does have legs tbh. This is basically a perfect storm, that any previous management at Microsoft would have fired half the business to prevent. Focusing on optimisation rather than bloat would be a better strategy. But IIRC the management of Microsoft believe the cloud is the future and were thinking desktop was dead anyway.
The conditions were set in 2025, but 2026 is probably when we will see the greatest amount of switching.
Until Valve removes their dependency on Windows developers for content on GNU/Linux, that doesn't matter.
Most professional studios have no reason to care, and change the status quo.
Most would rather stick to game consoles and mobile games than move a finger to support GNU/Linux, when not targeting Windows.
Most professional studios have no reason to care, and change the status quo.
Most would rather stick to game consoles and mobile games than move a finger to support GNU/Linux, when not targeting Windows.
History doesn’t repeat itself but it certainly rhymes!
What about not sharing at all?
Oh well, if only we could start having Raspberry PI like mini PCs on consumer stores, instead of places only computer nerds know the location, and magic incantations.
Oh well, if only we could start having Raspberry PI like mini PCs on consumer stores, instead of places only computer nerds know the location, and magic incantations.
No joke, with the Pi offering a premium [0] desktop these days it's only a matter of product placement.
[0] https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-500-plus/
[0] https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-500-plus/
> What about not sharing at all?
I had windows defender want to upload a certificate to microsoft.
Default behavior is to silently always allow uploading "suspicious files"
I had windows defender want to upload a certificate to microsoft.
Default behavior is to silently always allow uploading "suspicious files"
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This happens every tine with Microsoft:
* Announces feature implemented in a horrible way
* Everyone gets mad
* Microsoft cancels the feature or removes features people complain about
I'm sick and tired of listening to it.
Someone in here once wrote that Microsoft must be doing it on purpose - it is similar to the negotiation tactic where you overcharge on purpose so your opponent feels they won something when you settle for less. Surely this is Microsoft's strategy to get you to accept them pushing this garbage on us.
Remember, the AI bubble winner won't be the one that pushes the first polished AI tool. It will be the company that fills most of the market, such that they already have market share by the time they are able to do something useful with it.
I'm sick and tired of listening to it.
Someone in here once wrote that Microsoft must be doing it on purpose - it is similar to the negotiation tactic where you overcharge on purpose so your opponent feels they won something when you settle for less. Surely this is Microsoft's strategy to get you to accept them pushing this garbage on us.
Remember, the AI bubble winner won't be the one that pushes the first polished AI tool. It will be the company that fills most of the market, such that they already have market share by the time they are able to do something useful with it.
[Not now] and similar "options" will never not irritate me.
Has anyone figured out why so many corps do this? It always feels like it's one step from:
* Of course do whatever you want! * Nah I'm a big dumb idiot who doesn't know whats good for him so ask me in 3 days when I've hopefully come to my senses.
I think a simple law would fix this
If no wasn't an option, you did not establish consent.
* Of course do whatever you want! * Nah I'm a big dumb idiot who doesn't know whats good for him so ask me in 3 days when I've hopefully come to my senses.
I think a simple law would fix this
If no wasn't an option, you did not establish consent.
[flagged]
Management that struggles to acknowledge their users don't like something they wanted built.
They'll definitely realize their mistake and turn on our amazing feature! (This unfortunately is the real attitude sometimes)
They'll definitely realize their mistake and turn on our amazing feature! (This unfortunately is the real attitude sometimes)
You answered your own questions. They do think of their users as big dum idiots.
Not only idiots. They bank on laziness. One time you enable something by mistake then you might not spend the time to find the well hidden option to disable it.
Which reminds me, anyone know the precise location where one would disable Google's Gemini on their account?
Which reminds me, anyone know the precise location where one would disable Google's Gemini on their account?
> They bank on laziness.
And they would be correct. Less than 5% of users change defaults. That's why features get shoved in, on by default because if they didn't, very few would ever enable them. Not defending the practice, I hate it, but that's why they do it.
And they would be correct. Less than 5% of users change defaults. That's why features get shoved in, on by default because if they didn't, very few would ever enable them. Not defending the practice, I hate it, but that's why they do it.
KPI hunting? Toxic/fake positivity?
Should be a bot or something that automagically clicks 'not now' everytime it pops up.
task scheduler?
This'll be a good one for dark-pattern-bingo night!
There's never been a better time to switch to Linux
Windows 11 will ask consent before sharing personal files with AI after outrage
They left off the ... until the public forgets in a month or two
They left off the ... until the public forgets in a month or two
Dont forget that it will reset to opt you back in after every update, and on every third Tuesday for no legitimate reason.
So now the poor people forced into using Windows 11 will get constant prompts for each file and new files as they are created ? Looks like maybe at the directory level, a little better, but will be fun for developers :(
M/S should allow people to disable AI globally, but that will never happen. Plus how do we know if saying "no" really means "no" ?
M/S should allow people to disable AI globally, but that will never happen. Plus how do we know if saying "no" really means "no" ?
What else do you expect when you hire grifters like Mustafa Suleyman and put them in charge of decision making.
In reality Microsoft woke up and realized that they were rapidly sliding down the slippery slope towards the sloppy ground of a minimum user install situation and so they are trying to dig in their fingernails to arrest the slide. I predict that they will change their stance after stabilizing their position and advancing a little further back up the user install curve so that they silently move users towards a full data sharing arrangement again hoping to abscond with as much marketable user data as possible before the new terms leak and they find themselves again slip-sliding down towards an install minimum that they should've floundered in years ago.