Microsoft

A fantastic report by the Norwegian Consumer Council that explains how tech companies use dark patterns to discourage us from exercising our rights to privacy. Facebook, Google and Windows 10 are named and shamed.

"One particular moment that fueled all this criticism was when Microsoft changed the behavior of the X button in the Get Windows 10 app, as clicking this button no longer canceled the upgrade, but ignored the setting and prepared the install in the background."

Qualitative evaluation of the consent-obtaining mechanisms implemented and used by the five big tech companies, i.e. Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, and Microsoft (GAFAM)

Despite the user already having chosen their preferred web browser and search engine, Microsoft forces users to consider switching to Edge and Bing. If the user is not paying attention, they may mistakenly opt in to this change.

When an update is available, the user is unable to shutdown or restart their operating system without updating.

Social media platforms repeatedly use so-called dark patterns to nudge you toward giving away more of your data.

Very @darkpatterns example by @Microsoft? What are my options here? "Accept optional data..." as opposed to "Yes send optional data...". I wish not to send anything. Which option should I choose?

Wow, the dark patterns in Windows to keep you on Edge are quite something. Search bing for Chrome leads to huge banner promo for Edge. Changing the default browser pops up promo for Edge.

@Microsoft please don't auto-select "contact me with promotional offers" after I deselected it and then navigated to select my region. It's unbecoming of what is otherwise a very good company.

The Windows icon should bring you to the Windows update menu and let you select updates. Instead it takes you to the Windows update menu and you have to hit check for updates. This never used to be the case you used to be able to just select which updates are going to install.

@windows 10 with another @darkpatterns where it keeps nagging for the user to "finish setting up the PC" when it's more than set up intentionally without an on line account and the screen does NOT have a choice to "not ask this again". Instead it makes you click "remind me later" as if you wanted to be nagged again. Can we stop this, @Microsoft ? It's condescending!

For the umpteenth time: NO! Remove this dark pattern! @Microsoft

In today's episode of @darkpatterns : Microsoft Edge (of course!) If you click "Manage Settings", you'll note that Personalization & advertising is disabled. If you click the seemingly passive "Got it!", you are telling the browser to CHANGE a setting to benefit MS financially.

‘This process is annoying enough the first time, but at some point down the line, you'll also be offered […] the "second chance out-of-box experience," , which will try to get you to do all of this stuff again if you skipped some of it the first time.’

Microsoft has started showing a fullscreen pop-up for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III when you boot up an Xbox today

"Microsoft automatically switched me to the $99.99/year version with Spicy Autocomplete. You have to go all the way through "cancel subscription" to be presented these options and get the $69.99/year one you actually chose."

"This seems like a prime example of if ever I've seen one."

"Love this deceptive pattern from Microsoft in which they bundle something many want (listing better jobs) with something else few people care about (ads). Are you ready for the same lack of enforcement with DMA consent that we are getting with the GDPR?"

"What you see if you search for "Chrome" using Edge+Bing The chatbot response dominates the page, ignoring your search term and promoting bing instead. Source:"

""Nope, not malware. Just Windows.""

"Windows 11 is such ass why is my work PC giving me pop up suggestions to buy Black Ops 6"

"I don't use Word often, but when I do, it's because I have to. A few days ago I notice the Save function now defaults to OneDrive. I've no idea when that started, but it's NOT what I want and fixing that up every time I save is another unnecessary, but deliber..."

"This has been in the pipeline for ages and we're very excited to announce this new research report by @Harrybr and @Cennydd!"

"Thanks to the new EU Digital Markets Act (DMA): "No Bing, no Edge, no upselling: De-crufted Windows 11 coming to Europe soon""

"This process is annoying enough the first time, but at some point down the line, you'll also be offered [] the "second chance out-of-box experience," , which will try to get you to do all of this stuff again if you skipped some of it the first time."

"Microsoft to stop forcing Windows 11 users into Edge in EU countries "...likely related to the EUs Digital Markets Act, which comes into effect in March 2024.""

"Microsoft starts testing ads in the Windows 11 Start menu - The Verge"

"Microsoft automatically switched me to the $99.99/year version [...] You have to go all the way through "cancel subscription" to be presented these options and get the $69.99/year one you actually chose."