A cause for concern: Microsoft's AI tool does this every 5 seconds
Tech giant Microsoft's artificial intelligence program screenshots a user's activity every five seconds, causing concern among cyber experts.
The new AI tool Microsoft Recall is already raising concerns about data privacy, with AI and privacy consultant Dr. Kris Shrishak saying, “This could be a nightmare. The mere fact that screenshots will be taken during use of the device could have a chilling effect on people.”
Nevertheless, Microsoft boasts that it can technically help users “retrace their steps” in an informal way.
The program can read key terms and words from screenshots. When users enter photos, phrases or links to search their history, Recall can scan and match them with relevant screenshots.
“Trying to remember the name of that Korean restaurant your friend Alice told you about? Just turn to Recall and it will take both text and image matches for your search and automatically sort the results based on how closely they match your search,” the tech giant said in a statement introducing the AI tool. 
ASSURANCES BUT NOT ENOUGH
Microsoft told the BBC that screenshots are stored locally on the individual's device and cannot be accessed by outside sources, including the company.
Despite this statement, experts are still concerned about the risk of data leaks. Daniel Tozer, a data and privacy expert, said it's a dystopian situation like the TV series “Black Mirror”.
“There could be information on the screen that belongs to the user's employer or is confidential; will the business be happy for Microsoft to record it?” he said, adding his concerns about taking photos of conversations.
Governments are already taking note. A spokesperson for the UK's Information Commissioner's Office said they are “already making enquiries with Microsoft to understand the measures in place to protect user privacy”.
Nevertheless, Microsoft argues that “with Recall, you are in control”, stating that it can be strategically paused. “You can choose which apps and websites you want to exclude, such as banking apps and websites,” the statement reads.
