14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has announced a series of changes regarding the way it collects data and informs users about the process regardless of product.
The company explains that the data it collects would be categorized in two different groups for “major products,” namely required or optional.
The required category includes data that Microsoft needs to provide users with the expected functionality of the products, including here the terms of a search query when looking for something on Bing, for example.
This is information that Microsoft needs to provide relevant search results, and the company explains that other data includes the IP address, type and version of the device, as well as diagnostic data that could help fix and prevent failures and crashes.
Microsoft says that users will be provided with controls over the collected data in some cases, but it’s important to know that this is tied to the functionality of certain products.
“We are working on providing additional configuration options that will give customers more control over the collection of data that’s required for certain features or functions,” it says.
Changes rolling out in a few months
The optional category includes data that users will have full control over, like information “about the pictures people are inserting into Word documents.”
“We think there are compelling reasons for people to share this optional data, because it creates the opportunity for new and richer experiences. But we want people to understand what’s happening and to have the opportunity to make this choice for themselves,” Microsoft notes.
Microsoft says it’ll also improve the documentation it offers to users and provide more information on this data collection process. A biannual report will also be published to detail changes made to data collection.
All these changes will begin rolling out in the coming months, according to Microsoft, with the revised documentation and reporting to first target Windows 10 and Office 365 ProPlus.