Brazil Says Windows 10 Collects User Data Without Consent, Sues Microsoft

Brazil Says Windows 10 Collects User Data Without Consent, Sues Microsoft
Prosecutors seek $2.87 million fine for the company
April 26, 2018
https://news.softpedia.com/news/bra...a-without-consent-sues-microsoft-520864.shtml

 

Microsoft is going to keep the dumb stuff going like that until the whole world comes crashing in on them like an avalanche.

All it's going to take is a few hefty wins and some passing the word around and they just as well close up shop and sign on to the NSA under a different names. Jerks.

 

If M$ burns down the whole world burns down.

2.87 million dollars? Pffft. A no further action & NDA/No Fault contract & M$ sends Brazil 10 million dollars now.

 

And that's the dirty rotten truth of what it's come to with that outfit.

 

Has anyone seen any more about this?

I find nothing in English. But my ability to search and read in Portuguese is very limited

 

The lawsuit is now up to US$10 millions... Microsoft said in their defense that users have the option of not upgrading to Windows 10...

 

10 millions is a joke.
About not upgrading - I guess that MS has short memory. When they've tried to persuade users to upgrade (GWX debacle) even clicking on red (X) would start upgrading. So at that time IMO regular users had no choice.

 

Thanks If you can link to an article, that would be very cool

 

I can but it would be in Portuguese.

 

"Ten million dollar!!" *puts-little-finger-in-mouth*

Why even bother? Would it really have any impact?

 

I'm cool with Portuguese

 

@mirimir
https://g1.globo.com/economia/tecno...suspender-coleta-de-dados-no-windows-10.ghtml

 

Thanks

But that's also dated 2018-04-26 (same as the article starting the thread). I'm wondering what's happened since. Settlement? Trial scheduled? Or

 

@mirimir Nothing yet... the latest news was that there was an increase of value.... We should see some results in four or five years if there is no settlement.

 

OK, thanks

 

I wonder when Brazil actually started this. I mean, the Windows 10 April 2018 Update did indeed simplify the process of configuring privacy options. So it seems like that update could represent compliance. But the dates (April 26 article vs April update) don't make sense. However, I can imagine that it was an attempt to satisfy Brazil, and they said "no way", and then went public.

 

At a bare minimum fines should fit the crime. That means this should start in the billions. Millions is nothing but a slap on the wrist.

 

They demanded 100,000 reais ($28,700) per day (initially for 100 days) until Microsoft stops collecting user data by default, and provides "better privacy controls that help users understand how the data collection process works and how to opt out".

So maybe that's based on estimated number of Windows 10 users, and a statutory fine per day?

I'd be interested to know that, but searching Brazilian law via the Internet, not speaking Portuguese, is too much for me

 

Only a fool would be using Windows, especially the more recent versions of Windows,, like Windows 10,,, because Windows compromises your privacy and anonymity in so many different ways that it is not even funny. Especially any version of Windows that is Windows 10 or more recent versions, because Windows is basically nsa/fbi/cia approved spy ware. Even if you are using Tor in conjunction with Windows, the mere fact that you are using Windows, especially Windows 10 and more recently-released versions, completely compromises whatever privacy or anonymity Tor tries to give you.

 

I'm not sure if I ever saw proof for those claims, though I believe in them. hmmmmm

 

The daily fine is considered an accessory to the main claim and will add up until Microsoft either proves the claims are false, i.e. there is no privacy violation or proves that it has complied. Normally these fines go well above the main claim in value.

 

I, like many other "fools" here, use Windows 10, as it is an excellent operating system and it does NOT spy on you. If you choose to believe otherwise, that's up to you. But personally, I always avoid ridiculous and unfounded paranoia.

Perhaps you should read the following article:
https://www.windowscentral.com/no-windows-10-not-spying-your-pc-thousands-times-day

 

This is just all about someones faulty data and how that ended up in a single news article. This has nothing to do with any actual tests and all conclusions are nonsensical. (EDIT sorry I had a double negation here)
Are there no real tests made about this? I am sure there are. That would be the reason why so many reputable sources want to opt-out of it. Still haven't seen any proof for this, though.

 

Yeah, I gotta agree. Especially about Tor.

I mean, Tor on Windows? Why bother?

Sure, if you used an anonymously obtained installer, never let it see your ISP-assigned IP address, and never did anything to link it to your meatspace identity (or to any persona, except ones used intentionally). But how many Windows users are that careful with Tor? Not many, I bet!