Microsoft recently announced some big changes to the Recall feature in Windows, and now it’s pulled the Release Preview version which contained Recall entirely.
It’s likely not a coincidence that Microsoft also quietly pulled the build of the Windows 11 24H2 update that it had been testing in its Release Preview channel for Windows Insiders. It’s not unheard of for Microsoft to stop distributing a beta build of Windows after releasing it, but the Release Preview channel is typically the last stop for a Windows update before a wider release.
Andrew Cunningham at Ars Technica
The company doesn’t actually mention why the release was pulled, but the reason is pretty obvious if you connect the dots. I’m at least glad Microsoft is taking the complaints seriously, and while I don’t personally think Recall is a good idea, if a user gives their consent and uses it knowingly and willingly, I don’t see any problems with it.
Whenever a mega corporation wants to implement changes which score 8 on the evil scale, it introduces something scoring 25 on that scale. Given the obvious reaction, it then announces retreating from that 25, and quietly pushes that 8 thing without any opposition.
Those 8s accumulate over time, and our lives quietly get worse and worse.
> Recall is a good idea, if a user gives their consent and uses it knowingly and willingly, I don’t see any problems with it.
“Knowingly and willingly” is a fairy tale in current market conditions.