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Comment by leakycap | Hacker News Reader

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leakycap·

Microsoft: forces OneDrive on users via dark pattern dialogs that many users just accept

Users: save files "on their PC" (they think)

Microsoft: Rolls out AI photo-scanning feature to unknowing users intending to learn something.

Users: WTF? And there are rules on turning it on and off?

Microsoft: We have nothing more to share at this time.

Favorite quote from the article:

> [Microsoft's publicist chose not to answer this question.]

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Almost feel like we are getting to class action or antitrust when you connect the dots. Almost all PCs come with Windows. Defacto you need to create a M$ account to use Windows locally. They opt you into one drive by default. They sync your docs by default. They upload all your photos into AI by default.

You can use Windows without a Microsoft account, but the dark pattern to do this is very difficult to navigate.

Sounds like this advice will be expiring along with the next Windows update, so if you want a local account your window of opportunity may be closing. (What happens when you need to get a new PC?)

By "class action" I presume you're referring to the US. If so, no, the courts of law are forbidden to you. You will instead go to a secret tribunal where the laws do not matter. The arbiter will only continue to be paid if they continue to rule for corporations.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/servicesagreement#15_binding...

Not everything that a company lawyer writes in text is actually legally binding.

Tell them "you may only refuse to answer this question 3 times a year".

It's totally worth self hosting files, it's gotten much better.

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