Dutch Regulators catch Windows 10 breaching GDPR

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Published onNovember 19, 2018

published onNovember 19, 2018

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Two years in the offing and GDPR is still being breached. It will come as no surprise to many that a big, American tech company is in trouble for breaking General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It seems that Microsoft has been playing ‘hide thedata‘ with respect to GDPR, according toPrivacy Company(yes, really), the company that discovered the breaches.

Microsoft’s Windows 10 breaching GDPR

Of course, it is fair to say that there have been many breaches. However, many of them were leading up to GDPR when companies were panicking a bit.

I particularly like the tweets sent out just before GDPR about companies sending outmass emailsabout how much they respectprivacy, and then CCing everyone in the email (rather than BCCing). Oh you couldn’t make it up.

However, companies cocking things up before and during the implementation of GDPR and Microsoft ignoring it six months after its implementation is another thing.

It’s not voluntary, you know

Microsoft will no doubt cry foul, pointing out that it has made concrete efforts to abide by GDPR, such as moving itsdatacenter back to Europe. It will also say that thedatait was collecting was only the normaldatait collects to help improve itsWindows10 (and Microsoft Office) programs.

I think the Dutch regulators will need more convincing. They said, “Dataprovided by and about users was being gathered throughWindows10 Enterprise and Microsoft Office and stored in a database in the US in a way that posed major risks to users’privacy.” And Privacy Company, sounding even more damning, stated that Microsoft practised the, “large-scale and secretprocessingofdata”.

Five largest fines handed out by EU

As it stands, things don’t look good for Microsoft, and I have a funny feeling that the EU is going to look at this as yet another American company thinking it doesn’t need to take EU regulations seriously. Which is strange considering recent fines would suggest that this would be an extremely reckless stance.

EU fines as of July 18, 2018

Now, I realize that these companies are mega-rich, but even a company like Google must baulk at the idea of having to cough up $5 billion bucks to the EU. If you want more of the juicy details, head over toBusiness Insider.

Microsoft did release astatement to TNWsaying:

We are committed to our customers’privacy, putting them in control of theirdataand ensuring that Office ProPlus and other Microsoft products and services comply with GDPR and other applicable laws. We appreciate the opportunity to discuss our diagnosticdatahandling practices in Office ProPlus with the Dutch Ministry of Justice and look forward to a successful resolution of any concerns.

I’m predicting the ‘successful’ resolution will cost Microsoft millions. Mind you, considering all thedatait has captured, maybe it will be worth it.

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low#

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app#

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities#

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount#

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier#

Dutch Regulators catch Windows 10 breaching GDPR#

Microsoft’s Windows 10 breaching GDPR#

It’s not voluntary, you know#

Five largest fines handed out by EU#