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Get access to our most high performance version ever, with faster and easier scaling at lower cost. x 179750458 story Microsoft Data Storage Privacy Microsoft's OneDrive Begins Testing Face-Recognizing AI for Photos (for Some Preview Users) (microsoft.com) 42 Posted by EditorDavid on Saturday October 11, 2025 @11:34AM from the face-time dept. I uploaded a photo on my phone to Microsoft's "OneDrive" file-hosting app -- and there was a surprise waiting under Privacy and Permissions. "OneDrive uses AI to recognize faces in your photos..." And... "You can only turn off this setting 3 times a year." * If I moved the slidebar for that setting to the left (for "No"), it moved back to the right, and said "Something went wrong while updating this setting." (Apparently it's not one of those three times of the year.) The feature is already rolling out to a limited number of users in a preview, a Microsoft publicist confirmed to Slashdot. (For the record, I don't remember signing up for this face-recognizing "preview".) But there's a link at the bottom of the screen for a "Microsoft Privacy Statement" that leads to a Microsoft support page, which says instead that "This feature is coming soon and is yet to be released." And in the next sentence it's been saying "Stay tuned for more updates" for almost two years... A Microsoft publicist agreed to answer Slashdot's questions... Slashdot: What's the reason OneDrive tells users this setting can only be turned off 3 times a year? (And are those any three times -- or does that mean three specific days, like Christmas, New Year's Day, etc.) [Microsoft's publicist chose not to answer this question.] Slashdot: If I move the slidebar to the left (for "No"), it moves back to the right, and says "Something went wrong while updating this setting." So is it correct to say that there's no way for users to select "No" now? Microsoft: We haven't heard about the experience you are having with toggling, but our Microsoft contacts would like to investigate why this is happening for you. Can you share what type of device you are using, so we can put you in touch with the right team? Slashdot: Is this feature really still "coming soon"? Can you give me more specific details on when "soon" will be? Microsoft: This feature is currently rolling out to limited users in a preview so we can learn and improve. We have nothing more to share at this time. Slashdot: I want to confirm something about how this feature is "yet to be released." Does this mean that currently OneDrive is not (and has never) used AI to "recognize" faces in photos? Microsoft: Privacy is built into all Microsoft OneDrive experiences. Microsoft OneDrive services adhere to the Microsoft Privacy Statement and follow Microsoft's compliance with General Data Protection Regulation and the Microsoft EU Data Boundary. Slashdot: Some privacy advocates prefer "opt-in" features, but it looks like here OneDrive is planning a (limited) opt-out feature. What is the reasoning for going with opt-out rather than opt-in? Microsoft: Microsoft OneDrive inherits privacy features and settings from Microsoft 365 and SharePoint, where applicable. Slashdot also spoke to EFF security/privacy activist Thorin Klosowski, who expressed concerns. "Any feature related to privacy really should be opt-in and companies should provide clear documentation so its users can understand the risks and benefits to make that choice for themselves." Microsoft's "three times a year" policy also seemed limiting to Klosowski. "People should also be able to change those settings at-will whenever possible because we all encounter circumstances were we need to re-evaluate and possibly change our privacy settings." [apply tags ] - You may like to read: - ChatGPT, iPhone History Found for Uber Driver Charged With Starting California's Palisades Fire Acer To Raise US Laptop Prices 10% After Tariffs Can Heat Pumps Still Save the Planet from Climate Change? California Now Has 68% More EV Chargers Than Gas Nozzles, Continues Green Energy Push BYD Unveils New Super-Charging EV Tech With Peak Speeds of 1,000 kW Much of the World's Solar Gear is Made Using Fossil Power in China Is OpenAI Planning to Turn ChatGPT Into an Ad Platform? Microsoft's OneDrive Begins Testing Face-Recognizing AI for Photos (for Some Preview Users) More | Reply Login Microsoft's OneDrive Begins Testing Face-Recognizing AI for Photos (for Some Preview Users) Post Load All Comments Full Abbreviated Hidden /Sea Score: 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 More | Reply Login Nickname: [ ] Password: [ ] [ ] Public Terminal --------------------------------------------------------------------- [Log In] Forgot your password? Close Close Search 41 Comments Log In/Create an Account Comments Filter: * All * Insightful * Informative * Interesting * Funny The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way. * Wow, just wow (Score:5, Insightful) by RitchCraft ( 6454710 ) writes: on Saturday October 11, 2025 @11:43AM (#65718448) Loving Microsoft yet? Reply to This Share twitter facebook Flag as Inappropriate + + Re: (Score:2) by markdavis ( 642305 ) writes: >"Loving Microsoft yet?" I don't use any of their products. And there are many good reasons for that. o o # o 1 reply beneath your current threshold. * If I used that, and I won't (Score:2) by Chuck Hamlin ( 6194058 ) writes: I would only do an rclone encrypted volume. And keep separate copies. + * Market demand makes them do it (Score:5, Funny) by Cajun Hell ( 725246 ) writes: on Saturday October 11, 2025 @12:03PM (#65718470) Homepage Journal What's the reason OneDrive tells users this setting can only be turned off 3 times a year? Because that's what their customers are demanding! Don't you hate when you're doing something, and you realize you've done it more than 3 times? Just yesterday I adjusted the mirror on my wife's SUV and thought "we keep undoing each other's mirror adjustments. Can't it just stop moving so that one of us permanently loses and one permanently wins? Why is this car letting us change it back'n'forth?" Microsoft fights for the users! Reply to This Share twitter facebook Flag as Inappropriate + + Re: (Score:1) by edavid ( 1045092 ) writes: But they will never ask permission to the people on pictures. And THAT is the great https://www.youtube.com/shorts... [youtube.com]. o o Re: (Score:2) by Alain Williams ( 2972 ) writes: My thoughts exactly: I have nothing to do with Microsoft, its products or services. How does it know that I do not want my face to be recognised ? The only way that it can get it right is opt-in of registered users only -- that will never happen just as AI companies will not respect copyright. # + Re:Market demand makes them do it (Score:4, Interesting) by AmiMoJo ( 196126 ) writes: on Saturday October 11, 2025 @01:32PM (#65718586) Homepage Journal There might be a more benign reason for it. In GDPR countries, if you turn it off they will probably need to delete all the biometric data. If you then turn it back on again, it will have to regenerate all the biometic data and re-scan every photo. If people toggle it too often, it's going to consume a large amount of CPU time. You can confirm it by using an open source facial recognition tool, like the one built into Immich. Importing photos takes much, much longer if you have face recognition turned on. Of course a more sensible way to do it would be to allow the user to toggle it whenever they want, with the caveat that if the turn it back on, it might take a long time to start working, or might only apply to new photos after the initial back-catalogue freebie. Or they could just be being dicks. Reply to This Parent Share twitter facebook Flag as Inappropriate o o Re: Market demand makes them do it (Score:3) by RegistrationIsDumb83 ( 6517138 ) writes: Plausible, but should have limited the number of times it is turned on in that scenario. # o Re: (Score:2) by sound+vision ( 884283 ) writes: I was thinking that perhaps in some jurisdiction, having the slider means the user has "consented" to their data being scanned, or may accidentally "consent" if they look at or touch it. # # Re: (Score:2) by AmiMoJo ( 196126 ) writes: Under GDPR it has to be explicit and clearly indicated, but yeah not everywhere is as good as that. @ * You will place your balls in this vice (Score:5, Funny) by Big Hairy Gorilla ( 9839972 ) writes: on Saturday October 11, 2025 @12:19PM (#65718488) .. and you will pay for the privilege. Will wait here for garbz to explain why that's a good thing. Reply to This Share twitter facebook Flag as Inappropriate + + Re:You will place your balls in this vice (Score:5, Insightful) by the_skywise ( 189793 ) writes: on Saturday October 11, 2025 @12:36PM (#65718512) Close. More like "Your balls are already in the vice, would you like to opt-out for a small fee? You can do this 3 times a year." Reply to This Parent Share twitter facebook Flag as Inappropriate o o Re: (Score:3) by PPH ( 736903 ) writes: My balls will break the Microsoft vice. # # Re: (Score:3) by martin-boundary ( 547041 ) writes: Just restart the vice, it will work fine the next time! @ * Don't let them (Score:5, Insightful) by LainTouko ( 926420 ) writes: on Saturday October 11, 2025 @12:22PM (#65718492) I suggest encrypting anything stored in cloud systems using some key which is either based on a thoroughly memorised passphrase or stored in several different drives in multiple physical locations. But note that this is not a solution for people with less technical knowledge than slashdotters, and these people deserve their privacy too. It is a solution to personal problems, but not a solution to this social problem. Reply to This Share twitter facebook Flag as Inappropriate + * Facial Recognition (Score:4, Interesting) by OtisSnerd ( 600854 ) writes: on Saturday October 11, 2025 @12:24PM (#65718494) This is kind of the reason I deleted all my photos I was sharing through OneDrive last year. Since they're going to do facial recognition, I uploaded ONE photo, one of an old IBM mainframe CPU card (S/370 9672 - G1, from 1995). Let them facial recognize that. I have plenty more personal retro computing hardware, should they want better images of me. Maybe some of those slop AI people would be fun to upload as well. Reply to This Share twitter facebook Flag as Inappropriate + + Re: (Score:3) by martiniturbide ( 1203660 ) writes: Hey, upload your old hardware pictures to Internet Archive !!! (archive.org) o o Re: (Score:2) by OtisSnerd ( 600854 ) writes: -> Hey, upload your old hardware pictures to Internet Archive !!! (archive.org) Hmmm, hadn't thought of doing that, I'll look into it. # * If something is good... (Score:2) by MpVpRb ( 1423381 ) writes: ...people choose it voluntarily and often pay for it If something is forced on people and is difficult or impossible to turn off, it's rarely good + + Or if you're microsoft (Score:2) by ebunga ( 95613 ) writes: Don't give people a choice and sitll make them pay for it. o * Q&A (Score:4, Informative) by Calydor ( 739835 ) writes: on Saturday October 11, 2025 @12:46PM (#65718538) It's not a Q&A if the guy getting the questions doesn't actually provide an answer to any of them. The answers are nothing-was-actually-said drivel. Reply to This Share twitter facebook Flag as Inappropriate + + Re: (Score:2) by drinkypoo ( 153816 ) writes: The answers are nothing-was-actually-said drivel. Indeed, and exactly what thinking people expect from a PR flack for a corporation which produced and distributed literally the most insidious spyware of all time. o o Re: (Score:2) by martin-boundary ( 547041 ) writes: Asking questions is a skill. That's why some journalists are paid the big bucks (*) NOT asking questions is also a skill. That's why some OTHER journalists are paid the big bucks # * Amazon Photos has been doing this for YEARS (Score:2) by kriston ( 7886 ) writes: Amazon Photos has been doing this for many years. What's the big deal? + + Re: (Score:2) by Zuck Enabler ( 10503068 ) writes: Well for one I've never heard of it and for two Amazon photos isn't forced on you for using Windows. o + Re: (Score:2) by sound+vision ( 884283 ) writes: Never heard of Amazon Photos, but thanks for letting me know to avoid it. o * Easy: (Score:2) by jopet ( 538074 ) writes: just don't use Microsoft Crap + + Re: (Score:2) by LVSlushdat ( 854194 ) writes: Lemme chime in here with a hearty "F--K YOU MICROSOFT"... o * Microsoft's upper level management is incompetent (Score:2) by Pinky's Brain ( 1158667 ) writes: This clearly comes down from the top, "force AI into everything and show me uptake, or else ...", so the grunts just shovel it in there and force it. Meanwhile the market is clapping because the morons at the top lucked into the money printer which is the cloud transition. Also 365/Azure are handled with some competence ... while Windows and consumer applications are done by the teams with the least political power, which get forced to do these AI experiments and use crap like WinUI ("dogfooding" is clearly + + Re: (Score:2) by buck-yar ( 164658 ) writes: Or could be their current AI is built on illegal material and they are quietly trying to build a legal LLM? How does AI have pictures of public people without somehow somewhere violating copyright? o * Big Brother (Score:1) by LOGINS SUC ( 713291 ) writes: Besides Orwell foreshadowing our growing dystopia so as to become eponymous, "Orwellian". In our glaring stupidity, we'd already relegated rights of the actual subject for promotion of the rights of the likeness/image taker. Your image in photos is not your own, as example. It belongs to the photographer, exclusively. Orwell understood Big Brother isn't some esoteric government abstraction. Big Brother is us, by willful ignorance and negligence. None could be worse. + * "You can only turn off this setting 3 times a year (Score:4, Insightful) by Growlley ( 6732614 ) writes: on Saturday October 11, 2025 @02:29PM (#65718696) and it will be turned back on every forced update which will happen 4 times a year ! Reply to This Share twitter facebook Flag as Inappropriate + * One more question ... (Score:3) by PPH ( 736903 ) writes: on Saturday October 11, 2025 @02:54PM ( #65718728) ... for the Microsoft publicist: Are you a 'bot? Reply to This Share twitter facebook Flag as Inappropriate + * I'm only adding one pic to my OneDrive (Score:2) by Rick Zeman ( 15628 ) writes: Anyone remember tub girl? + * One Drive? (Score:2) by ScooterBill ( 599835 ) writes: I'm a windows user and always have turned off OneDrive. There are other very secure platforms for this that don't have the bias that a Microsoft operation will have. + * Do not use ohne-drive... (Score:2) by gweihir ( 88907 ) writes: Unless you want all your data analyzed, used, sold and lost. + * Morals of a creep at a bar with a bottle of GHB (Score:2) by ebunga ( 95613 ) writes: You're going to do what Microsoft tells you todo. They take what they want, and you're just going to wake up sore and confused the next morning. + * Wait, what? (Score:3) by Charlotte ( 16886 ) writes: on Saturday October 11, 2025 @06:14PM (#65718978) Slashdot can do images? When was that feature added? Reply to This Share twitter facebook Flag as Inappropriate + + o + 1 reply beneath your current threshold. * Question for Cory Doctorow... (Score:2) by david.emery ( 127135 ) writes: What's the step beyond Enshittification? Microsoftification? Oracalization? Tech Broiication? Because we've clearly moving past Enshittification to something even worse. + * There may be more comments in this discussion. 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