Microsoft Faces European Privacy Probes Over Windows 10

Microsoft Faces European Privacy Probes Over Windows 10
Windows 10

Microsoft faces a coordinated investigation by European privacy regulators after it failed to do enough to address their concerns about the collection and processing of user data with a series of changes to Windows 10 last month, according to Bloomberg.

European Union data-protection officials sent a letter to Microsoft saying they remain “concerned about the level of protection of users’ personal data,“ according to a copy of the document posted by the Dutch watchdog. Regulators from seven countries are concerned that even after the announced changes, “Microsoft does not comply with fundamental privacy rules.“

The company risks separate European fines, if regulators find that the way user data is tracked and processed through Windows 10 violates national privacy laws. EU regulators, who meet on a monthly basis, sent the letter to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and CPO Brendon Lynch on Feb. 15.

Microsoft is “listening carefully to comments from members“ of the EU group of privacy authorities and “will continue to cooperate with the Working Party and national data protection agencies,“ it said in a statement. “Our January announcement of changes coming to the Windows 10 privacy settings reflect our commitment to the protection of our users’ personal data.“

U.S. technology giants including Google and Facebook have faced an increasing number of regulatory fences as EU watchdogs seek to curb unwarranted processing of people’s personal data. A new EU privacy law that will take effect in May 2018 will give national regulators the power to fine companies as much as 4 percent of their global annual sales for violations. Data-protection agencies from the Netherlands, Germany, France, the U.K., Spain, Hungary and Slovenia are collaborating on the Microsoft probes, the Dutch watchdog said.