Microsoft Introduces New Windows 10 Privacy Settings to Address Spying Claims

Microsoft has often been criticized for the privacy settings it implemented in Windows 10, with many users and privacy advocates accusing the firm of trying to spy on its customers with the operating system.

Starting with Windows 10 Creators Update preview build 15019, Microsoft is introducing new options in the setup experience that are specifically supposed to address these claims, as part of a broader plan that was announced by Windows boss Terry Myerson earlier this month.

Specifically, the new privacy controls are displayed in the setup screen to give users more control over their privacy from the very beginning, with Microsoft aiming at offering a similar experience to everyone with the release of the Creators Update in April.

Changes in this build

This build officially removes the Express settings, but the company says that users would get a different configuration of their privacy options based on the version they are upgrading from.

“If you are moving from Windows 7 or Windows 8, or doing a fresh install of Windows 10, the new set up experience will clearly show you simple but important settings and you will need to choose your settings before you can move forward with setup. If you are already using Windows 10, we will use notifications to prompt you to choose your privacy settings,” Myerson announced earlier this month.

There are also other changes in terms of privacy coming to Windows 10, including a reduced amount of data that is being collected from computers running the operating system.

And last but not least, Microsoft is trying to simplify data collection by offering just two levels instead of three. The Enhanced mode is being removed, so users need to choose between Basic and Full. This change is not yet available in the existing builds, but Microsoft plans to introduce them before the debut of the Creators Update, so that everyone would get them in the stable release.

Keep in mind that today’s changes are only visible in the setup screen, so if you are updating from a previous build, you might not see them.