Perhaps Microsoft's Recall feature should itself be subject to a recall. The tech giant's new artificial intelligence program is causing concerns among cyber experts due to its ability to take screenshots of a user's activity every five seconds. Dr. Kris Shrishak, an AI and privacy adviser, expressed worry over the potential privacy implications, stating that the constant screenshotting could have a chilling effect on people. Recall is part of Microsoft's larger AI Co-Pilot interface, which aims to assist users in retracing their steps. The program can analyze screen captures, identifying key terms and words, and match them with relevant screenshots when users search for specific photos, phrases, or links within their history. Microsoft claims that Recall can provide both text and visual matches, bringing users back to the exact location of the item they saw. The screenshots are stored locally on the user's device and cannot be accessed by outside sources, including Microsoft.

However, data and privacy expert Daniel Tozer raised concerns about potentially sensitive information being recorded, especially in cases where individuals partake in video chats. He emphasized the importance of user and access controls, which will likely be a focal point for Microsoft. Governments, including the United Kingdom's Information Commissioner's Office, are already making inquiries into the safeguards Microsoft has in place to protect user privacy. Despite Microsoft's assertion that privacy is a priority, some experts, like Jen Caltrider of Mozilla, worry that this could change in the future. Caltrider also expressed concerns about the potential for access to the recorded content by law enforcement or by Microsoft for targeted advertising or AI training purposes. It is worth noting that Recall has already been cracked to run on unsupported hardware, according to reports. As a result, experts advise caution when using Recall and recommend avoiding sharing sensitive information with the feature. Microsoft claims that users have control over Recall and can selectively pause its functionality, excluding apps and websites such as banking apps from its screenshotting capabilities.