I heard Windows 11 has been updated to take screenshots of your computer. Is it theoretically possible for them to delete content from your PC or external hard drives if they can determine that you have pirated content on them? Can they theoretically report you for it? I know it’s unlikely but is it still possible? I’m thinking of switching to Linux and this may be the reason why.
Edit: Thank you all for your educated answers. I really appreciate y’all!
First of all, you should definitely switch to Linux for a whole bunch of reasons, not the least of which is that Windows is a privacy and sovereignty disaster.
That said, copyright is a legal concept, not a technological one. There is no algorithmic check to know if content is pirated or not because the computer can’t know what legal rights you have. The file could be identical to one that can be obtained through BitTorrent, but maybe you have a license or are using it in such a way that is Fair Use. No way for the computer to tell.
Microsoft does have the technological capability to make Windows delete your stuff (and the possibility does make using Windows untenable), but they would definitely be wrong to do so.
While I agree with you, I think Microsoft as a giant corporation could still go for the “shoot first, ask questions later” approach, and delete your content and make you appeal if you disagree.
Yeah, that’s the “(and the possibility does make using Windows untenable)” part.
On the realm of possibilities, windows can do whatever it wants. If it is connected to the internet then yeah it would be possible for Microsoft to do something like that, but I wouldn’t be worried about it just for piracy. Something like that could be possible for detecting CP or things on that level but I doubt MS would go low enough to do that for simple pirated content.
What you have heard about is a feature called “Recall”, which is something that has not actually rolled out and will only be coming to PCs with specific neural processing units. Other windows users will not be affected (although of course that will change over time as old devices are replaced with new).
Is it possible? Yes, of course it’s possible. You could say that about pretty much any operating system - including Linux distros - if the functionality turns out to be popular.
However, to be 100% clear, this is functionality that the user can disable (either entirely, or on an app-by-app basis). And data is never transacted to the cloud or with Microsoft. What’s on the device does not leave the device. It’s also really not in Microsoft’s own interest at all to try taking on that responsibility… How would they know if you paid for an app/game/song or not, even if they wanted to?
But back to your question: yes, of course it is possible. This type of technology has already been prototyped in different ways (e.g. Apple have done work about identifying CSAM on the iPhone, although not implemented).
Yes, Linux gives you a lot more control. If you were to make the switch, I would list a hundred other reasons that are far more compelling than this storm in a teacup.
That said, there’s absolutely no reason a Linux distro couldn’t also bring the same functionality, if there is consumer appetite for it.
If you are looking to truly make it “impossible”, you need to air-gap your machine and not connect to the internet anymore.
While possible, I don’t thing MS would it opens too many problems for them.
Something to consider, say you had pirated content on your PC and you were in the middle of a lawsuit related to that pirated content, Microsoft then deletes that content from your PC as part of an automated system action. Did MS commit an act of evidence destruction?
The Windows system user has full control over the PC including hard drive content and network connection, so yes, it is theoretically possible. However, there are endpoint protection tools that also have full control over Windows, and if the OS ever deleted a user’s stuff, they’d notice and it would become public, which would be an insane PR nightmare for Microsoft.
deleted by creator
There’s a difference between “haha silly LLM” and an operating system used by potentially billions of people, including businesses, governments, military, scanning and deleting your potentially sensitive information.
deleted by creator
It happens already. Windows “Defender” consistently quarantines pirated dll files i.e. EMP.dll might get flagged and you won’t be able to play your game like you expected because the file is now missing and you have to restore it.
Anything is theoretically possible on a closed source operating system. But it’s not likely. First of all, this “feature” is only compatible with “Copilot+” PCs, so your system probably won’t even get it. It also would run foul of privacy laws in in many places. Especially if they did that while claiming the screenshots only stay local. That’d be a huge lawsuit waiting to happen.
I could have sworn I read something about Windows 10 was already found deleting copyrighted material, maybe it was a fever dream.
I’m on Windows 10 and it hasn’t deleted anything I’ve pirated.
If this was true, my entire music collection, emulated games, the ebooks .etc would be all gone by now and I’d have nothing.
But yet, they remain.
Loot abides.
I doubt they’ll use screen shots to implement anything like piracy controls. It’s too messy and inaccurate, and there are easy and accurate ways to check for file signatures. Every virus scanner already does it.
If they’re going to institute license controls that’s how it would work. Any signature of unlicensed software would get locked out by file heuristics.
