Microsoft Revamps Controversial AI-Powered Recall Feature Amid Privacy Concerns

Microsoft said it will disable the AI-powered Recall feature by default and make it opt-in after criticism that the tool— which captures screenshots every five seconds to build an "explorable visual timeline"—posed privacy and security risks. In response, Microsoft added protections including requiring Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security for decryption, encrypting the search index, local-only storage and processing of snapshots, and giving users and enterprise admins control to pause, filter, delete, or disable Recall.