Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Microsoft 365

2025-01-27T20:38:57Z

Skatche: Relevant section got moved; updating the redirect accordingly.

#REDIRECT [[Microsoft Office 365]]

Talk:Microsoft

2025-01-27T05:19:44Z

Skatche:

I cannot deny, the "dark patterns" section definitely feels a bit inflammatory, though I'm curious to know if other seconds are a bit inflammatory [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 15:30, 17 January 2025 (UTC)

: Agree, I added the ToneWarning because the whole page seemed 'off' -Keith

: Any ideas on how to tone the rest of the page down? I know we'd need to get the attention of the "dark patterns" author to know the intent before we clean that section up. [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 16:06, 17 January 2025 (UTC)

: I reached out to Ixus directly by e-mail. Hoping to get some more information, as IMO the issue isn't tone but a lack of details. [[User:Skatche|Skatche]] ([[User talk:Skatche|talk]]) 00:19, 27 January 2025 (EST)

== Dark patterns section ==

Is it even worth keeping tbh, I was looking for sources and its a barely talked about topic, could just be worth scrapping altogether even after I fixed some of the language.

: Perhaps remove most of the text from this page, and spin it out as a stub incident page?

Talk:Mission statement

2025-01-27T05:03:22Z

Skatche:

== Captcha system is bugged on user talk and discussion pages ==

I went to a user's talk page and tried to add a topic. Wrote it up, clicked to save, it asked me for some Captcha text -- but while there was a text box to enter my answer, there was no Captcha to be seen. This behaviour is consistent across other users' talk pages, as well as this very discussion page: I'm circumventing it by editing the source directly, rather than adding a topic. Yes, I manually copied the following code from another comment: [[User:Skatche|Skatche]] ([[User talk:Skatche|talk]]) 00:01, 27 January 2025 (EST)

== Concern about mission statement ==

The mission statement itself is a bit scaring. It's the first page to see and could turn away people that try to look up something in the future. This article has to move at some point to a more inviting page, maybe not in the next time tho. [[User:Tpat90|Tpat90]] ([[User talk:Tpat90|talk]]) 22:06, 14 January 2025 (UTC)

Agree, but until we are aiming to attract readers rather than contributors, I'm happy for us to keep it as is. It'll likely be a while before the wiki is useful to a casual reader [[User:Keith|Keith]]

== Thoughts on archiving sources ==

It should be mentioned that this wiki could be used as an index for solicitation with copyright requests, or through some other method, to take down at any point any of the sources listed on each page. Those sources, then, should at least be checked to make sure that they have been captured by the Internet Archive, or through some other service. I think it'd be tedious and unhelpful for every source to directly link to an archive page, but there should be some kind of policy to make sure that these sources are archived. [[User:Liana]] ([[User talk:Liana|talk]]) 17:11, 17 January 2025 (UTC)

: I think it'd be a much better idea if the sources WERE directly archived and/or pertinent screenshots pushed into the articles themselves so that any replicas of this wiki have them too. The Wiki likely should be easy to replicate, by the way. Maybe with published wiki dumps or such. - [[User:Anonymous]] 20 January 2025

: My worry is that if we do not capture sources (and sources request to be omitted from Internet Archives), they could be lost as has happened before. Link Rot is very real..

: I had to use internet archive to download the original software for my Linx tablets (which are now sadly considered to be e-waste), and if I could even suggest people run the tablets on original software (MS Windows 8.1), I would re-upload it to my own website, as the Linx website is dead and nothing (inclusive of Wikipedia, Internet Archive, the copper/fiber providing the connectivity even) is 100% guaranteed to stay up for the rest of forever. - [[User:DrToxic]] ([[user talk:DrToxic|talk]]) 16:18 22 January 2025

== What is the line in the sand for "new" consumer protection? ==

"A company remotely disabled software of consumers who posted bad online reviews" and "All consumer devices with needless cloud connection were bricked when a company went out of business" would be within scope for the wiki at the very top of the gradient of badness, but where along the gradient do these stories fall out of scope?

# A car manufacturer sells a heated seat subscription even though the consumer already purchased the hardware with their car, but the manufacturer is upfront & honest about it when they purchase the car
# A manufacturer that sells hardware also provides the software necessary to use said hardware, but it requires a subscription service lest the hardware becomes a brick which they are transparent about when purchasing the hardware
# Same as 2 with some free functionality in the software, but the software (for the hardware you already purchased and own) is designed to be frustrating to use (subjective guess) to force users to buy the software subscription
# Same as 2, but the software is a perpetual purchase at least (though still the hardware will be a brick without purchasing the software)
#* Does it make a difference between how "reasonable" the price is (subjective)? E.g. $100 purchase vs $5000 to keep your $5000 hardware from turning into a brick
# Company which sold yearly releases for software that users would own in perpetuity (think Photoshop CS6 or pre-365 Microsoft Office) changes to a subscription model for new releases going forward so that now users who relied on their software can never "own" it again
#* This is "okay" in today's climate due to the gradual erosion of consumer ownership, but would have been an outrage 40+ years ago
# Same as 5 except the company never sold perpetual licenses in the first place and is just riding on the coattails of other companies which have eroded consumer ownership
# A consumer device has a cloud connection, which hasn't yet been bricked because the company is still in business
#* It would be fair game once consumer devices are bricked, but do we have to wait? Is ''any'' cloud connection which can result in a loss of functionality the consumer paid for fair game even before it is lost? I imagine consumers would want to know that a device they plan on purchasing is at risk before they make the purchase
# "Schematics or Die": if the device is fully offline and cannot be affected by the manufacturer post-sale but they refuse to provide schematics to owners upon request, is that "intentionally [creating] obstacles to repair"?
#* Does it change if the reason is because they don't own all of the IP and can't legally release schematics? (would we even know the difference between whether this was the case or they were intentionally making it harder to repair if they did not directly tell us?)

These all "take away the consumer's right of ''ownership''." in the words of the mission statement, but have become increasingly accepted and "fair" with the erosion of consumer ownership over time. They are not even necessarily a "revocation" of ownership because the consumer was never provided the opportunity of ownership in the first place. [[User:DrewW]] ([[User talk:DrewW|talk]]) 06:58, 19 January 2025 (UTC)

:I'll try to tackle a few of these:
: For #1: yep, even if it's clearly communicated, it's taking away ownership and the ability to use your thing. The fact that it's clearly communicated and so on should be mentioned in the article for it.
: Similarly, for 2 through 4, I think we can apply similar logic - it's anti ownership even if reasonable. i do hesitate at #4 though, as I think in that case it might come down to reasonability, and whether the cost of the software was advertised as part of the cost of the package, or whether it was more hidden.

:Honestly, 5 and 6 are tricky... I'd need to think more about them.

: For 7: It's fair game, as the product would be bricked right now if a tree fell on their datacentre's powerline. it's a problem when a perfectly good product has the potential to be worthless just becausee someone else turns off their computer. Obviously, if nothing has yet happened, the article should reflect that, and state as much.

: For 8: I'd say so, though I think this might fall under the umbrella of 'old' consumer protection, and need to meet a size threshold. Situations like that one you mention with the IP being unreleaseable are exactly why tone is so important for this wiki - we should simply state that they are not releasing the schematics, that this is causing people problems, and any statements the company has publicly made. We should not ascribe intentionality to the company's actions when we do not know their intentions.

: For now, we're mostly going to be drawing the line by feel, as we don't want to discourage people from writing potentially relevant articles. In a month or so we might revisit exactly where the line lies.

:I think the key takeaway is that even if it's a relatively benign example, because we will be presenting things in a factual and neutral tone, it's fine to make an article about it. We will do our absolute best not to misrepresent things, so a benign example will read less severely to an extreme example when someone is reading an article.

:Consider also that somewhere in the policy (I forget where, but I definitely wrote it) it mentions that it's perfectly ok to write articles about relevant positive incidents, such as steam removing forced arbitration.

: Thank you very much for the question, and I hope this provides some insight as to our stance! [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 20:59, 19 January 2025 (UTC)

Here’s my take on this:

The stories fall out of scope where they fail to address clear consumer deception, harm, or unethical practices that are integral to shaping consumer sentiment. This wiki, as I understand it, is about empowering consumers with knowledge of **how they’ve been misled or wronged** to prevent ongoing exploitation.

For example, a company transitioning from perpetual licenses to subscriptions might be **unpopular** but doesn’t inherently constitute deception or malpractice—it’s a business model shift, not a lie. However, **concealing predatory terms** (like subscription exit fees in the case of Adobe) or **breaking user trust** directly impacts consumer rights (and feelings) and fits squarely within scope.

The line is crossed when actions no longer directly reveal deceit, systemic exploitation, or a violation of consumer rights and expectations (and feelings).

[[User:Imolith|Imolith]] ([[User talk:Imolith|talk]]) 17:41, 21 January 2025 (UTC)

== Hiding the table of contents on the homepage ==

Now that this page is much shorter, I think it would be a good idea to hide the table of contents by placing <nowiki>__NOTOC__</nowiki> at the top of the page (right above the first line, with no blank line in between). Right now, the table of contents takes up half of the available space on my screen. [[User:Waldo|Waldo]] ([[User talk:Waldo|talk]]) 07:05, 20 January 2025 (UTC)
: Steve from GN even hid it himself in his video: https://youtu.be/zdLr5CKFiJs?si=yL7pRnuAHhbtbTk5 [[User:Waldo|Waldo]] ([[User talk:Waldo|talk]]) 16:04, 21 January 2025 (UTC)

:: Hey [[User:Waldo|@Waldo]] you are right, should have gotten that done yesterday! [[User:Kostas|Kostas]] ([[User talk:Kostas|talk]]) 16:13, 21 January 2025 (UTC)

::: Thanks! To be fair, I didn't ping anyone yesterday :) [[User:Waldo|Waldo]] ([[User talk:Waldo|talk]]) 16:15, 21 January 2025 (UTC)

== Rewriting the Main Page and some broader site organization work ==

This is a vision I have for what the main page of this site could be, and how some organizational changes could be made on the site overall to make it more approachable, more educational, and easier to navigate. I've previously sent this to Support in Discord, but thought it might be good to share here. This proposal is better than the one I had sent in Discord.

In short, my vision is for the main page to be an intro to the website as a whole, and a central navigation point to help people get to the specific information they want, rather than a page focused on contribution to CAT.

A.) Title: Change this page's name from "Mission statement" to "Consumer Action Taskforce Wiki".

B.) Intro: Above the table-of-contents, add a one-paragraph summary of what the site is about/for. The Mission could be included here.

C.) Article/ToC: My proposal for the Table of Contents and overall article is to feature each major category of Consumer Rights, with Contribution and extra information toward the end.

ToC Proposal:
# What is "consumer protection" and how are we taking action?
# Right To Repair
# Right to Own / Right to Use What You Own
# Right to Privacy
# Right to the Justice System (Forced Arbitration)
# Right to Cancel
# Violations by Company
# Resources for consumers
# Fight for change / Take Action
# Contribute to this wiki

Each of these sections would be brief. The 'Right To Repair' section would introduce the issue, link to a couple of relevant articles for examples ('John Deere fails to uphold right to repair agreement' & 'Future Motion Onewheel skateboard...'), and link to a dedicated 'Right To Repair' page.

I would also suggest having the ToC be flat (i.e. no sublists)

D.) Dedicated Pages for each main topic

The dedicated 'Right To Repair' page would introduce the issue, feature a couple of example articles, and also catalogue all articles regarding 'Right To Repair'. 'Right To Own', 'Right To Privacy', and others would have dedicated pages in the same vein.

The catalogue of relevant articles on each dedicated page may be further organized. For example 'Tesla asks customers to vote against Right to Repair' might fall under a 'Political' category of R2R, whereas the Onewheel article might fall under a 'Devices' category. Some articles might appear on both 'Right to Repair' and 'Right to Own', so perhaps an additional section on each page for these multi-category articles.

E. Resources for Consumers (potentially off-topic)

'Resources for consumers' would include things like 'Privacy Not Included' from Mozilla, repair.wiki, iFixit.
It could additionally include recommendations for consumer-respecting devices and consumer-respecting software, but I know that product recommendations are off-topic for this site. The Editorial Guidelines state "This Wiki is not a place for product recommendations, and cannot be turned into a place for sneaky guerilla advertising, or the promotion of contributors' pet projects."
As an alternative, perhaps a guiding article for consumers of what to look for could be helpful when trying to choose consumer-respecting devices and software. Is it Open Source? Are Replacement Parts Available? Is a subscription required? Can it be remotely disabled? Is my data collected/sold? And then linking to other online resources where you can try to get answers to those questions.

F. 'Fight For Change / Take Action' (potentially off-topic)

The Editorial Guidelines state that "We will be especially vigilant against potentially harmful content, and take strong action against users who: (1)Advocate for direct action against malicious companies or individuals within articles themselves". So I don't know if a general guidance article on taking action for Consumer Rights is appropriate or not. Such an article, if it is appropriate, could direct folks toward contacting their representatives, using products that respect consumer rights, educating their friends, sharing the site.

This or a similar section of the site could also direct folks toward proposed legislation, failed legislation, maps of states that have addressed consumer issues, overview of the political process for getting R2R or other relevant legislation, and other legal/political resources of the sort.

G. Contribute to this Wiki

Provide brief summary of what does and does not belong on the wiki, and link to a dedicated 'Contributions' page that goes into more detail. Alternatively, brief summary then a list of links to more information.

A dedicated 'Contribute' page could give a numbered list of 'Before You Contribute', which then recommends things like 'Learn what belongs here', 'Learn what doesn't belong here', 'Read the Editorial Guidelines'. Then have a 'How To Contribute' section listing 'Edit Articles', 'Create New Articles', 'Discuss Changes' (talk page, discord), 'MediaWiki Formatting'. Then have a 'Contribute' section listing links to 'Convert Videos to Articles' (video directory), 'Articles in need of work', and whatever other avenues are recommended for contribution.

H. Navigation Menu

Suggestions:

* Put 'main page' at the top, followed by 'All Pages', then 'Categories', then the other links below those.
* Add a 'Consumer Rights' navigation box with the 'R2R', Right to Privacy, and dedicated-page links that I've suggested in the ToC section above.

[[User:ReedyBear|ReedyBear]] 22:50, 20 January 2025 (UTC)

== Relevant biographical data ==

This is in regards to companies and organizations. The information included about describing them should be info that supports CAT efforts. One point in particular is information that establishes a chain of responsibility for that company or organization so as to give consumers a pathway to approach problems with those most responsible for a policy or condition arising. For example the company info box I added a line item to identify if they are a public or privately held company, which would be information to establish who is responsible for the company's activities.

In the case of an organization such as government agencies or commissions, where that organization derives its authority from would also establish how to address its behavior. It doesn't need to be a history lesson, just the point of its inception and under what conditions it was allowed to be made, such as what specific law or action established it. [[User:MadMallard|MadMallard]] ([[User talk:MadMallard|talk]]) 09:33, 26 January 2025 (UTC)

Microsoft

2025-01-27T04:40:53Z

Skatche: /* Microsoft 365 */ Good edit, just touching it up a bit.

{{incomplete}}
{{ToneWarning}}
----{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Microsoft
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1975
| Industry = Information Technology
| Official Website = https://www.microsoft.com/
| Logo = Microsoft logo.png
}}
'''[[Wikipedia:Microsoft|Microsoft Corporation]]''' is a large American technology company founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Initially focused on developing BASIC interpreters, the company rose to prominence through its MS-DOS and Windows operating systems, which became fundamental to the personal computer revolution. Under successive CEOs Steve Ballmer and Satya Nadella, Microsoft expanded beyond operating systems into diverse technology sectors, including cloud computing, gaming, and hardware. Notable acquisitions include Skype, LinkedIn, and GitHub. Microsoft's recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion made it the third-largest gaming company globally.

As one of the Big Five American tech companies, Microsoft maintains market dominance in PC operating systems and office software, while offering a wide range of products and services, including the Azure cloud platform, Xbox gaming consoles, Surface computers, and enterprise solutions. The company has faced criticism for monopolistic practices and software security issues.
==Controversies==

===Court cases up to the early 2000s===
In a major antitrust case brought by the US Department of Justice, ''U.S. v. Microsoft Corp.,'' 253 F.3d 34 (D.C. Cir. 2001),<ref>https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/253/34/576095/</ref> Microsoft argued that there was no barrier to entry in the market they were in. A central issue at that time was whether Microsoft could bundle the web browser Internet Explorer with the Microsoft Windows operating system. The District Court stated the following in the court case: "The District Court condemned a number of provisions in Microsoft's agreements licensing Windows to OEMs, because it found that Microsoft's imposition of those provisions (like many of Microsoft's other actions at issue in this case) serves to reduce usage share of Netscape's browser and, hence, protect Microsoft's operating system monopoly."

The court specifically identified three main license restrictions for [[Original Equipment Manufacturers]] (OEMs) that were considered problematic:

#The prohibition upon the removal of desktop icons, folders, and Start menu entries
#The prohibition for modifying the initial boot sequence
#The prohibition of otherwise altering the appearance of the Windows desktop

The case was eventually settled,<ref>https://www.justice.gov/atr/case-document/file/503541/dl</ref><ref>https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/373/1199/474311/</ref> and did not result in a company breakup.<ref>https://www.seattletimes.com/business/microsoft/long-antitrust-saga-ends-for-microsoft/</ref>

Section III.H of the Consent Decree<ref>https://www.justice.gov/atr/microsoft-consent-decree-compliance-advisory-august-1-2003-us-v-microsoft</ref> required Microsoft to "allow end users and OEMs to enable or remove access to all middleware products, including web browsers, e-mail clients, and media players through a readily accessible, centralized mechanism." End users and OEMs should be able "to specify a non-Microsoft middleware product as the default middleware product to be launched in place of the corresponding Microsoft middleware product."

In the case ''United States v. Microsoft Corp.,'' 87 F. Supp. 2d 30 (D.D.C. 2000),<ref>https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp2/87/30/2307082/</ref> Microsoft's conduct taken as a whole was described as a "deliberate assault upon entrepreneurial efforts that, could well have enabled the introduction of competition into the market for Intel-compatible PC operating systems". Further, "Microsoft's anti-competitive actions trammeled the competitive process through which the computer software industry generally stimulates innovation and conduces to the optimum benefit of consumers."

===Windows===
====Forced Updates====
Beginning with [[Windows]] 10, end users can no longer selectively choose updates. Instead, updates are automatically scheduled when a computer is inactive, or before the system is shut down.<ref>https://www.crn.com/news/applications-os/300077576/did-microsoft-just-backtrack-on-forced-updates-for-windows-10</ref> This has also led to some systems being rendered unusable because of bugged updates that cannot be avoided.<ref>https://www.tomsguide.com/news/windows-10-update-is-bricking-pcs-uninstall-this-right-now</ref><ref>https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-update-bricked-my-bios-thought-to-be/a1f0ebc7-d20d-459f-9956-72a3f98ca432</ref> Some users have resorted to disabling updates in Window's registry editor,<ref>https://www.minitool.com/backup-tips/how-to-stop-win10-update.html</ref> though this prevents them from receiving security updates, which can make their systems vulnerable to attacks.

====Resetting preferences during updates====
During some Windows updates, the preferences users have set on applications that they have installed, will end up being reset to their default settings.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/n1hoz0/windows_please_stop_changing_my_settings_with/</ref><ref>https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-updated-and-reset-all-of-my-settings/529ffb03-edd4-4be2-9412-50e3271fa8fe</ref><ref>https://www.minitool.com/news/windows-settings-are-reset-after-reboot.html</ref> Users have reported this to go as far as resetting permissions for apps,<ref name=":1">https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-update-reset-my-computer-settings/e58bcee8-f4c9-40ef-a452-1dc5db7c45d9</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/y0ksm0/why_are_my_settings_changed_after_every_update/</ref><ref>https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/why-do-updates-remove-personalization-settings/0f1badb2-7486-4d31-b687-39913795aa8f</ref> which can be extremely risky for insecure software. 

===Edge===
[[Microsoft Edge]] is a [[Chromium]]-based [[web browser]] that comes preinstalled with Windows 10 and later. It is the successor to [[Internet Explorer]].
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Controversy
!Year started - Year Ended
!Background Info
!Aftermath
!Related Article
|-
|Inability to delete
|2018 – Present
|During major updates for Windows, users have been reporting their installations of Edge being reinstalled to their devices without their consent.<ref>https://www.windowscentral.com/how-prevent-microsoft-edge-chromium-installing-automatically-windows-10</ref>
|No change
|
|-
|Importing content from other browsers without consent
|2020 – ?
|Users have reported on frequent occasions that Edge has imported user data from browsers such as Chrome and Firefox without first requesting consent from the user.<ref>https://www.komando.com/news/microsoft-edge-caught-importing-data/</ref>
|Unknown if it still occurs
|
|-
|Resetting primary browser
|2017 – Present
|Windows has frequently been resetting the default browser to Edge<ref>https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/default-browser-keeps-changing-to-edge/25e2939d-4674-40ab-b05a-6161e2297976</ref> without consent.<ref name=":1" /> While there are methods to disable this,<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/15zbjar/default_browser_keeps_changing_to_microsoft_edge/</ref> it is tedious to achieve, especially for users who are not tech-savvy.
|Continues to happen
|
|}

===Windows 11===

====TPM 2.0 chip requirements====
While reasonably circumventable,<ref>https://www.starwindsoftware.com/blog/bypass-tpm-and-install-windows-11-on-unsupported-hardware/</ref> Microsoft's decision to lock down Windows 11 to computers with Trusted Platform Module 2.0 chips (TPMs) has forced the hands of both consumers and companies alike to dispose of hardware that would otherwise be perfectly acceptable to use.<ref>https://securityonline.info/windows-11s-tpm-2-0-free-software-foundation-fights-forced-upgrades-and-e-waste/</ref> This has also caused Microsoft to frequently remind Windows 10 users to upgrade their hardware to be compatible with Windows 11,<ref>https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-revives-pop-ups-in-windows-10-to-push-windows-11-upgrades</ref><ref>https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-embarrasses-itself-with-windows-10-pop-up-that-hogs-the-desktop-urging-an-upgrade-to-windows-11-then-promptly-crashes</ref> which has caused many users frequent agitation.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoft/comments/19dvs9k/any_way_to_disable_the_upgrade_to_windows_11_ads/</ref>

====Recall====
In 2024, Microsoft unveiled Recall,<ref name=":0">https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-reveals-ai-powered-recall-feature-to-transform-windows-11s-searchability-while-confirming-hardware-requirements</ref> marketed as a way to search through what you have done on your computer by recording your screen. This sparked controversy,<ref>https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsofts-controversial-recall-feature-for-windows-11-could-already-be-in-legal-hot-water</ref> especially among security experts<ref>https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/feature/Privacy-and-security-risks-surrounding-Microsoft-Recall</ref> who worried about the security of screenshots,<ref>https://news.sky.com/story/microsoft-ai-feature-investigated-by-uk-watchdog-over-screenshots-13141171</ref> since it could easily document private information like social-security numbers, bank-account information, and passwords, as well as user browsing behavior. A Python script was developed, called "TotalRecall", that collects the screenshots and descriptions of these recordings,<ref>https://github.com/xaitax/TotalRecall</ref> proving the danger of Recall.<ref name=":0" /> This feature was delayed after backlash from users.<ref>https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2024/06/microsoft-recall-delayed-after-privacy-and-security-concerns</ref>

===Microsoft account dark patterns when installing Windows===
[[File:MSInstall.png|thumb|An image of a Windows 10 installation, to illustrate the effort required to make an account unattached to a Microsoft account.]]
Numerous [[dark patterns]] have been implemented in the form of vague language and a confusing user interface, which hides the option to create an account without a Microsoft account under sub-menus and small text. The dark patterns in the Windows installation menu have been in place since Windows 10 was launched in 2015, and continue into the Windows 11 installation process.

===Removal of games===
In early September 2016, Microsoft shut down Xbox Live Indie Games,<ref>https://www.polygon.com/2015/9/9/9297959/xbox-live-indie-games-shutting-down</ref> and in late July 2024, Microsoft shut down its storefront for Xbox 360 games.<ref>https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2023/08/17/xbox-360-store-will-close-july-2024/</ref> These shutdowns have made it impossible to obtain new copies of, or in some cases, even play, hundreds of games.

===Microsoft 365===
In January 2025, YouTuber Atomic Shrimp reported<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYVPThx7yss</ref> that Microsoft had enacted a "forced upsell" of 365's new AI Copilot feature. Users with basic accounts (now called "Classic"), such as Shrimp himself, had been informed their subscription fee was going up, but that they would enjoy new features as a result, including Copilot. In his efforts to disable Copilot, Shrimp subsequently discovered that Microsoft now offered "Classic" plans, identical to the old basic plans both in features and in subscription fee. The option to downgrade to Classic, however, was only visible to enterprise users, not to personal users. In essence Microsoft upgraded users' plans without their consent and disabled the option to downgrade, forcing the user to contact Microsoft support in order to opt out of the newly introduced Copilot AI features. The forceful upgrade was at the user's expense, and the downgrading process through support, according to Shrimp, was very time consuming.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Artificial intelligence companies]]
[[Category:Business software companies]]
[[Category:Cloud computing providers]]
[[Category:Computer hardware companies]]
[[Category:Computer systems companies]]
[[Category:Defense companies]]
[[Category:Electronics companies]]
[[Category:Mobile phone manufacturers]]
[[Category:Software companies]]
[[Category:Web service providers]]

Microsoft 365

2025-01-27T04:37:19Z

Skatche: Handy redirect page.

#REDIRECT [[Microsoft#Microsoft 365]]

Microsoft

2025-01-27T00:06:11Z

Skatche: /* Microsoft 365 */ Edited for clarity.

{{incomplete}}
{{ToneWarning}}
----{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Microsoft
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1975
| Industry = Information Technology
| Official Website = https://www.microsoft.com/
| Logo = Microsoft logo.png
}}
'''[[Wikipedia:Microsoft|Microsoft Corporation]]''' is a large American technology company founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Initially focused on developing BASIC interpreters, the company rose to prominence through its MS-DOS and Windows operating systems, which became fundamental to the personal computer revolution. Under successive CEOs Steve Ballmer and Satya Nadella, Microsoft expanded beyond operating systems into diverse technology sectors, including cloud computing, gaming, and hardware. Notable acquisitions include Skype, LinkedIn, and GitHub. Microsoft's recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion made it the third-largest gaming company globally.

As one of the Big Five American tech companies, Microsoft maintains market dominance in PC operating systems and office software, while offering a wide range of products and services, including the Azure cloud platform, Xbox gaming consoles, Surface computers, and enterprise solutions. The company has faced criticism for monopolistic practices and software security issues.
==Controversies==

===Court cases up to the early 2000s===
In a major antitrust case brought by the US Department of Justice, ''U.S. v. Microsoft Corp.,'' 253 F.3d 34 (D.C. Cir. 2001),<ref>https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/253/34/576095/</ref> Microsoft argued that there was no barrier to entry in the market they were in. A central issue at that time was whether Microsoft could bundle the web browser Internet Explorer with the Microsoft Windows operating system. The District Court stated the following in the court case: "The District Court condemned a number of provisions in Microsoft's agreements licensing Windows to OEMs, because it found that Microsoft's imposition of those provisions (like many of Microsoft's other actions at issue in this case) serves to reduce usage share of Netscape's browser and, hence, protect Microsoft's operating system monopoly."

The court specifically identified three main license restrictions for [[Original Equipment Manufacturers]] (OEMs) that were considered problematic:

#The prohibition upon the removal of desktop icons, folders, and Start menu entries
#The prohibition for modifying the initial boot sequence
#The prohibition of otherwise altering the appearance of the Windows desktop

The case was eventually settled,<ref>https://www.justice.gov/atr/case-document/file/503541/dl</ref><ref>https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/373/1199/474311/</ref> and did not result in a company breakup.<ref>https://www.seattletimes.com/business/microsoft/long-antitrust-saga-ends-for-microsoft/</ref>

Section III.H of the Consent Decree<ref>https://www.justice.gov/atr/microsoft-consent-decree-compliance-advisory-august-1-2003-us-v-microsoft</ref> required Microsoft to "allow end users and OEMs to enable or remove access to all middleware products, including web browsers, e-mail clients, and media players through a readily accessible, centralized mechanism." End users and OEMs should be able "to specify a non-Microsoft middleware product as the default middleware product to be launched in place of the corresponding Microsoft middleware product."

In the case ''United States v. Microsoft Corp.,'' 87 F. Supp. 2d 30 (D.D.C. 2000),<ref>https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp2/87/30/2307082/</ref> Microsoft's conduct taken as a whole was described as a "deliberate assault upon entrepreneurial efforts that, could well have enabled the introduction of competition into the market for Intel-compatible PC operating systems". Further, "Microsoft's anti-competitive actions trammeled the competitive process through which the computer software industry generally stimulates innovation and conduces to the optimum benefit of consumers."

===Windows===
====Forced Updates====
Beginning with [[Windows]] 10, end users can no longer selectively choose updates. Instead, updates are automatically scheduled when a computer is inactive, or before the system is shut down.<ref>https://www.crn.com/news/applications-os/300077576/did-microsoft-just-backtrack-on-forced-updates-for-windows-10</ref> This has also led to some systems being rendered unusable because of bugged updates that cannot be avoided.<ref>https://www.tomsguide.com/news/windows-10-update-is-bricking-pcs-uninstall-this-right-now</ref><ref>https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-update-bricked-my-bios-thought-to-be/a1f0ebc7-d20d-459f-9956-72a3f98ca432</ref> Some users have resorted to disabling updates in Window's registry editor,<ref>https://www.minitool.com/backup-tips/how-to-stop-win10-update.html</ref> though this prevents them from receiving security updates, which can make their systems vulnerable to attacks.

====Resetting preferences during updates====
During some Windows updates, the preferences users have set on applications that they have installed, will end up being reset to their default settings.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/n1hoz0/windows_please_stop_changing_my_settings_with/</ref><ref>https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-updated-and-reset-all-of-my-settings/529ffb03-edd4-4be2-9412-50e3271fa8fe</ref><ref>https://www.minitool.com/news/windows-settings-are-reset-after-reboot.html</ref> Users have reported this to go as far as resetting permissions for apps,<ref name=":1">https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-update-reset-my-computer-settings/e58bcee8-f4c9-40ef-a452-1dc5db7c45d9</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/y0ksm0/why_are_my_settings_changed_after_every_update/</ref><ref>https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/why-do-updates-remove-personalization-settings/0f1badb2-7486-4d31-b687-39913795aa8f</ref> which can be extremely risky for insecure software. 

===Edge===
[[Microsoft Edge]] is a [[Chromium]]-based [[web browser]] that comes preinstalled with Windows 10 and later. It is the successor to [[Internet Explorer]].
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Controversy
!Year started - Year Ended
!Background Info
!Aftermath
!Related Article
|-
|Inability to delete
|2018 – Present
|During major updates for Windows, users have been reporting their installations of Edge being reinstalled to their devices without their consent.<ref>https://www.windowscentral.com/how-prevent-microsoft-edge-chromium-installing-automatically-windows-10</ref>
|No change
|
|-
|Importing content from other browsers without consent
|2020 – ?
|Users have reported on frequent occasions that Edge has imported user data from browsers such as Chrome and Firefox without first requesting consent from the user.<ref>https://www.komando.com/news/microsoft-edge-caught-importing-data/</ref>
|Unknown if it still occurs
|
|-
|Resetting primary browser
|2017 – Present
|Windows has frequently been resetting the default browser to Edge<ref>https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/default-browser-keeps-changing-to-edge/25e2939d-4674-40ab-b05a-6161e2297976</ref> without consent.<ref name=":1" /> While there are methods to disable this,<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/15zbjar/default_browser_keeps_changing_to_microsoft_edge/</ref> it is tedious to achieve, especially for users who are not tech-savvy.
|Continues to happen
|
|}

===Windows 11===

====TPM 2.0 chip requirements====
While reasonably circumventable,<ref>https://www.starwindsoftware.com/blog/bypass-tpm-and-install-windows-11-on-unsupported-hardware/</ref> Microsoft's decision to lock down Windows 11 to computers with Trusted Platform Module 2.0 chips (TPMs) has forced the hands of both consumers and companies alike to dispose of hardware that would otherwise be perfectly acceptable to use.<ref>https://securityonline.info/windows-11s-tpm-2-0-free-software-foundation-fights-forced-upgrades-and-e-waste/</ref> This has also caused Microsoft to frequently remind Windows 10 users to upgrade their hardware to be compatible with Windows 11,<ref>https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-revives-pop-ups-in-windows-10-to-push-windows-11-upgrades</ref><ref>https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-embarrasses-itself-with-windows-10-pop-up-that-hogs-the-desktop-urging-an-upgrade-to-windows-11-then-promptly-crashes</ref> which has caused many users frequent agitation.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoft/comments/19dvs9k/any_way_to_disable_the_upgrade_to_windows_11_ads/</ref>

====Recall====
In 2024, Microsoft unveiled Recall,<ref name=":0">https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-reveals-ai-powered-recall-feature-to-transform-windows-11s-searchability-while-confirming-hardware-requirements</ref> marketed as a way to search through what you have done on your computer by recording your screen. This sparked controversy,<ref>https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsofts-controversial-recall-feature-for-windows-11-could-already-be-in-legal-hot-water</ref> especially among security experts<ref>https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/feature/Privacy-and-security-risks-surrounding-Microsoft-Recall</ref> who worried about the security of screenshots,<ref>https://news.sky.com/story/microsoft-ai-feature-investigated-by-uk-watchdog-over-screenshots-13141171</ref> since it could easily document private information like social-security numbers, bank-account information, and passwords, as well as user browsing behavior. A Python script was developed, called "TotalRecall", that collects the screenshots and descriptions of these recordings,<ref>https://github.com/xaitax/TotalRecall</ref> proving the danger of Recall.<ref name=":0" /> This feature was delayed after backlash from users.<ref>https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2024/06/microsoft-recall-delayed-after-privacy-and-security-concerns</ref>

===Microsoft account dark patterns when installing Windows===
[[File:MSInstall.png|thumb|An image of a Windows 10 installation, to illustrate the effort required to make an account unattached to a Microsoft account.]]
Numerous [[dark patterns]] have been implemented in the form of vague language and a confusing user interface, which hides the option to create an account without a Microsoft account under sub-menus and small text. The dark patterns in the Windows installation menu have been in place since Windows 10 was launched in 2015, and continue into the Windows 11 installation process.

===Removal of games===
In early September 2016, Microsoft shut down Xbox Live Indie Games,<ref>https://www.polygon.com/2015/9/9/9297959/xbox-live-indie-games-shutting-down</ref> and in late July 2024, Microsoft shut down its storefront for Xbox 360 games.<ref>https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2023/08/17/xbox-360-store-will-close-july-2024/</ref> These shutdowns have made it impossible to obtain new copies of, or in some cases, even play, hundreds of games.

===Microsoft 365===
In January 2025, YouTuber Atomic Shrimp reported<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYVPThx7yss</ref> that Microsoft had enacted a "forced upsell" of 365's new AI co-pilot feature. Users with basic accounts, such as Shrimp himself, had been informed their subscription fee was going up, but that they would enjoy new features as a result, including the co-pilot. In his efforts to disable the co-pilot, Shrimp subsequently discovered that Microsoft now offered "Classic" plans, identical to the old basic plans both in features and in subscription fee. The option to downgrade to Classic, however, was only visible to enterprise users, not to personal users.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Artificial intelligence companies]]
[[Category:Business software companies]]
[[Category:Cloud computing providers]]
[[Category:Computer hardware companies]]
[[Category:Computer systems companies]]
[[Category:Defense companies]]
[[Category:Electronics companies]]
[[Category:Mobile phone manufacturers]]
[[Category:Software companies]]
[[Category:Web service providers]]

Microsoft

2025-01-27T00:03:13Z

Skatche: /* Microsoft 365 */ Just changed the wording a bit.

{{incomplete}}
{{ToneWarning}}
----{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Microsoft
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1975
| Industry = Information Technology
| Official Website = https://www.microsoft.com/
| Logo = Microsoft logo.png
}}
'''[[Wikipedia:Microsoft|Microsoft Corporation]]''' is a large American technology company founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Initially focused on developing BASIC interpreters, the company rose to prominence through its MS-DOS and Windows operating systems, which became fundamental to the personal computer revolution. Under successive CEOs Steve Ballmer and Satya Nadella, Microsoft expanded beyond operating systems into diverse technology sectors, including cloud computing, gaming, and hardware. Notable acquisitions include Skype, LinkedIn, and GitHub. Microsoft's recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion made it the third-largest gaming company globally.

As one of the Big Five American tech companies, Microsoft maintains market dominance in PC operating systems and office software, while offering a wide range of products and services, including the Azure cloud platform, Xbox gaming consoles, Surface computers, and enterprise solutions. The company has faced criticism for monopolistic practices and software security issues.
==Controversies==

===Court cases up to the early 2000s===
In a major antitrust case brought by the US Department of Justice, ''U.S. v. Microsoft Corp.,'' 253 F.3d 34 (D.C. Cir. 2001),<ref>https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/253/34/576095/</ref> Microsoft argued that there was no barrier to entry in the market they were in. A central issue at that time was whether Microsoft could bundle the web browser Internet Explorer with the Microsoft Windows operating system. The District Court stated the following in the court case: "The District Court condemned a number of provisions in Microsoft's agreements licensing Windows to OEMs, because it found that Microsoft's imposition of those provisions (like many of Microsoft's other actions at issue in this case) serves to reduce usage share of Netscape's browser and, hence, protect Microsoft's operating system monopoly."

The court specifically identified three main license restrictions for [[Original Equipment Manufacturers]] (OEMs) that were considered problematic:

#The prohibition upon the removal of desktop icons, folders, and Start menu entries
#The prohibition for modifying the initial boot sequence
#The prohibition of otherwise altering the appearance of the Windows desktop

The case was eventually settled,<ref>https://www.justice.gov/atr/case-document/file/503541/dl</ref><ref>https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/373/1199/474311/</ref> and did not result in a company breakup.<ref>https://www.seattletimes.com/business/microsoft/long-antitrust-saga-ends-for-microsoft/</ref>

Section III.H of the Consent Decree<ref>https://www.justice.gov/atr/microsoft-consent-decree-compliance-advisory-august-1-2003-us-v-microsoft</ref> required Microsoft to "allow end users and OEMs to enable or remove access to all middleware products, including web browsers, e-mail clients, and media players through a readily accessible, centralized mechanism." End users and OEMs should be able "to specify a non-Microsoft middleware product as the default middleware product to be launched in place of the corresponding Microsoft middleware product."

In the case ''United States v. Microsoft Corp.,'' 87 F. Supp. 2d 30 (D.D.C. 2000),<ref>https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp2/87/30/2307082/</ref> Microsoft's conduct taken as a whole was described as a "deliberate assault upon entrepreneurial efforts that, could well have enabled the introduction of competition into the market for Intel-compatible PC operating systems". Further, "Microsoft's anti-competitive actions trammeled the competitive process through which the computer software industry generally stimulates innovation and conduces to the optimum benefit of consumers."

===Windows===
====Forced Updates====
Beginning with [[Windows]] 10, end users can no longer selectively choose updates. Instead, updates are automatically scheduled when a computer is inactive, or before the system is shut down.<ref>https://www.crn.com/news/applications-os/300077576/did-microsoft-just-backtrack-on-forced-updates-for-windows-10</ref> This has also led to some systems being rendered unusable because of bugged updates that cannot be avoided.<ref>https://www.tomsguide.com/news/windows-10-update-is-bricking-pcs-uninstall-this-right-now</ref><ref>https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-update-bricked-my-bios-thought-to-be/a1f0ebc7-d20d-459f-9956-72a3f98ca432</ref> Some users have resorted to disabling updates in Window's registry editor,<ref>https://www.minitool.com/backup-tips/how-to-stop-win10-update.html</ref> though this prevents them from receiving security updates, which can make their systems vulnerable to attacks.

====Resetting preferences during updates====
During some Windows updates, the preferences users have set on applications that they have installed, will end up being reset to their default settings.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/n1hoz0/windows_please_stop_changing_my_settings_with/</ref><ref>https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-updated-and-reset-all-of-my-settings/529ffb03-edd4-4be2-9412-50e3271fa8fe</ref><ref>https://www.minitool.com/news/windows-settings-are-reset-after-reboot.html</ref> Users have reported this to go as far as resetting permissions for apps,<ref name=":1">https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-update-reset-my-computer-settings/e58bcee8-f4c9-40ef-a452-1dc5db7c45d9</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/y0ksm0/why_are_my_settings_changed_after_every_update/</ref><ref>https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/why-do-updates-remove-personalization-settings/0f1badb2-7486-4d31-b687-39913795aa8f</ref> which can be extremely risky for insecure software. 

===Edge===
[[Microsoft Edge]] is a [[Chromium]]-based [[web browser]] that comes preinstalled with Windows 10 and later. It is the successor to [[Internet Explorer]].
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Controversy
!Year started - Year Ended
!Background Info
!Aftermath
!Related Article
|-
|Inability to delete
|2018 – Present
|During major updates for Windows, users have been reporting their installations of Edge being reinstalled to their devices without their consent.<ref>https://www.windowscentral.com/how-prevent-microsoft-edge-chromium-installing-automatically-windows-10</ref>
|No change
|
|-
|Importing content from other browsers without consent
|2020 – ?
|Users have reported on frequent occasions that Edge has imported user data from browsers such as Chrome and Firefox without first requesting consent from the user.<ref>https://www.komando.com/news/microsoft-edge-caught-importing-data/</ref>
|Unknown if it still occurs
|
|-
|Resetting primary browser
|2017 – Present
|Windows has frequently been resetting the default browser to Edge<ref>https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/default-browser-keeps-changing-to-edge/25e2939d-4674-40ab-b05a-6161e2297976</ref> without consent.<ref name=":1" /> While there are methods to disable this,<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/15zbjar/default_browser_keeps_changing_to_microsoft_edge/</ref> it is tedious to achieve, especially for users who are not tech-savvy.
|Continues to happen
|
|}

===Windows 11===

====TPM 2.0 chip requirements====
While reasonably circumventable,<ref>https://www.starwindsoftware.com/blog/bypass-tpm-and-install-windows-11-on-unsupported-hardware/</ref> Microsoft's decision to lock down Windows 11 to computers with Trusted Platform Module 2.0 chips (TPMs) has forced the hands of both consumers and companies alike to dispose of hardware that would otherwise be perfectly acceptable to use.<ref>https://securityonline.info/windows-11s-tpm-2-0-free-software-foundation-fights-forced-upgrades-and-e-waste/</ref> This has also caused Microsoft to frequently remind Windows 10 users to upgrade their hardware to be compatible with Windows 11,<ref>https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-revives-pop-ups-in-windows-10-to-push-windows-11-upgrades</ref><ref>https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-embarrasses-itself-with-windows-10-pop-up-that-hogs-the-desktop-urging-an-upgrade-to-windows-11-then-promptly-crashes</ref> which has caused many users frequent agitation.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoft/comments/19dvs9k/any_way_to_disable_the_upgrade_to_windows_11_ads/</ref>

====Recall====
In 2024, Microsoft unveiled Recall,<ref name=":0">https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-reveals-ai-powered-recall-feature-to-transform-windows-11s-searchability-while-confirming-hardware-requirements</ref> marketed as a way to search through what you have done on your computer by recording your screen. This sparked controversy,<ref>https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsofts-controversial-recall-feature-for-windows-11-could-already-be-in-legal-hot-water</ref> especially among security experts<ref>https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/feature/Privacy-and-security-risks-surrounding-Microsoft-Recall</ref> who worried about the security of screenshots,<ref>https://news.sky.com/story/microsoft-ai-feature-investigated-by-uk-watchdog-over-screenshots-13141171</ref> since it could easily document private information like social-security numbers, bank-account information, and passwords, as well as user browsing behavior. A Python script was developed, called "TotalRecall", that collects the screenshots and descriptions of these recordings,<ref>https://github.com/xaitax/TotalRecall</ref> proving the danger of Recall.<ref name=":0" /> This feature was delayed after backlash from users.<ref>https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2024/06/microsoft-recall-delayed-after-privacy-and-security-concerns</ref>

===Microsoft account dark patterns when installing Windows===
[[File:MSInstall.png|thumb|An image of a Windows 10 installation, to illustrate the effort required to make an account unattached to a Microsoft account.]]
Numerous [[dark patterns]] have been implemented in the form of vague language and a confusing user interface, which hides the option to create an account without a Microsoft account under sub-menus and small text. The dark patterns in the Windows installation menu have been in place since Windows 10 was launched in 2015, and continue into the Windows 11 installation process.

===Removal of games===
In early September 2016, Microsoft shut down Xbox Live Indie Games,<ref>https://www.polygon.com/2015/9/9/9297959/xbox-live-indie-games-shutting-down</ref> and in late July 2024, Microsoft shut down its storefront for Xbox 360 games.<ref>https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2023/08/17/xbox-360-store-will-close-july-2024/</ref> These shutdowns have made it impossible to obtain new copies of, or in some cases, even play, hundreds of games.

===Microsoft 365===
In January 2025, YouTuber Atomic Shrimp reported<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYVPThx7yss</ref> that Microsoft had enacted a "forced upsell" of 365's new AI co-pilot feature. Users with basic accounts, such as Shrimp himself, had been informed their subscription fee was going up, but that they would enjoy new features as a result, including the co-pilot. In his efforts to disable the co-pilot, Shrimp subsequently discovered that Microsoft now offered "Classic" plans, identical to the old basic plans both in features and in subscription fee. These, however, were only visible to enterprise users, not to personal users.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Artificial intelligence companies]]
[[Category:Business software companies]]
[[Category:Cloud computing providers]]
[[Category:Computer hardware companies]]
[[Category:Computer systems companies]]
[[Category:Defense companies]]
[[Category:Electronics companies]]
[[Category:Mobile phone manufacturers]]
[[Category:Software companies]]
[[Category:Web service providers]]

Microsoft

2025-01-27T00:00:49Z

Skatche: Added a report on Microsoft 365 from Atomic Shrimp.

{{incomplete}}
{{ToneWarning}}
----{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Microsoft
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1975
| Industry = Information Technology
| Official Website = https://www.microsoft.com/
| Logo = Microsoft logo.png
}}
'''[[Wikipedia:Microsoft|Microsoft Corporation]]''' is a large American technology company founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Initially focused on developing BASIC interpreters, the company rose to prominence through its MS-DOS and Windows operating systems, which became fundamental to the personal computer revolution. Under successive CEOs Steve Ballmer and Satya Nadella, Microsoft expanded beyond operating systems into diverse technology sectors, including cloud computing, gaming, and hardware. Notable acquisitions include Skype, LinkedIn, and GitHub. Microsoft's recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion made it the third-largest gaming company globally.

As one of the Big Five American tech companies, Microsoft maintains market dominance in PC operating systems and office software, while offering a wide range of products and services, including the Azure cloud platform, Xbox gaming consoles, Surface computers, and enterprise solutions. The company has faced criticism for monopolistic practices and software security issues.
==Controversies==

===Court cases up to the early 2000s===
In a major antitrust case brought by the US Department of Justice, ''U.S. v. Microsoft Corp.,'' 253 F.3d 34 (D.C. Cir. 2001),<ref>https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/253/34/576095/</ref> Microsoft argued that there was no barrier to entry in the market they were in. A central issue at that time was whether Microsoft could bundle the web browser Internet Explorer with the Microsoft Windows operating system. The District Court stated the following in the court case: "The District Court condemned a number of provisions in Microsoft's agreements licensing Windows to OEMs, because it found that Microsoft's imposition of those provisions (like many of Microsoft's other actions at issue in this case) serves to reduce usage share of Netscape's browser and, hence, protect Microsoft's operating system monopoly."

The court specifically identified three main license restrictions for [[Original Equipment Manufacturers]] (OEMs) that were considered problematic:

#The prohibition upon the removal of desktop icons, folders, and Start menu entries
#The prohibition for modifying the initial boot sequence
#The prohibition of otherwise altering the appearance of the Windows desktop

The case was eventually settled,<ref>https://www.justice.gov/atr/case-document/file/503541/dl</ref><ref>https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/373/1199/474311/</ref> and did not result in a company breakup.<ref>https://www.seattletimes.com/business/microsoft/long-antitrust-saga-ends-for-microsoft/</ref>

Section III.H of the Consent Decree<ref>https://www.justice.gov/atr/microsoft-consent-decree-compliance-advisory-august-1-2003-us-v-microsoft</ref> required Microsoft to "allow end users and OEMs to enable or remove access to all middleware products, including web browsers, e-mail clients, and media players through a readily accessible, centralized mechanism." End users and OEMs should be able "to specify a non-Microsoft middleware product as the default middleware product to be launched in place of the corresponding Microsoft middleware product."

In the case ''United States v. Microsoft Corp.,'' 87 F. Supp. 2d 30 (D.D.C. 2000),<ref>https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp2/87/30/2307082/</ref> Microsoft's conduct taken as a whole was described as a "deliberate assault upon entrepreneurial efforts that, could well have enabled the introduction of competition into the market for Intel-compatible PC operating systems". Further, "Microsoft's anti-competitive actions trammeled the competitive process through which the computer software industry generally stimulates innovation and conduces to the optimum benefit of consumers."

===Windows===
====Forced Updates====
Beginning with [[Windows]] 10, end users can no longer selectively choose updates. Instead, updates are automatically scheduled when a computer is inactive, or before the system is shut down.<ref>https://www.crn.com/news/applications-os/300077576/did-microsoft-just-backtrack-on-forced-updates-for-windows-10</ref> This has also led to some systems being rendered unusable because of bugged updates that cannot be avoided.<ref>https://www.tomsguide.com/news/windows-10-update-is-bricking-pcs-uninstall-this-right-now</ref><ref>https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-update-bricked-my-bios-thought-to-be/a1f0ebc7-d20d-459f-9956-72a3f98ca432</ref> Some users have resorted to disabling updates in Window's registry editor,<ref>https://www.minitool.com/backup-tips/how-to-stop-win10-update.html</ref> though this prevents them from receiving security updates, which can make their systems vulnerable to attacks.

====Resetting preferences during updates====
During some Windows updates, the preferences users have set on applications that they have installed, will end up being reset to their default settings.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/n1hoz0/windows_please_stop_changing_my_settings_with/</ref><ref>https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-updated-and-reset-all-of-my-settings/529ffb03-edd4-4be2-9412-50e3271fa8fe</ref><ref>https://www.minitool.com/news/windows-settings-are-reset-after-reboot.html</ref> Users have reported this to go as far as resetting permissions for apps,<ref name=":1">https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-update-reset-my-computer-settings/e58bcee8-f4c9-40ef-a452-1dc5db7c45d9</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/y0ksm0/why_are_my_settings_changed_after_every_update/</ref><ref>https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/why-do-updates-remove-personalization-settings/0f1badb2-7486-4d31-b687-39913795aa8f</ref> which can be extremely risky for insecure software. 

===Edge===
[[Microsoft Edge]] is a [[Chromium]]-based [[web browser]] that comes preinstalled with Windows 10 and later. It is the successor to [[Internet Explorer]].
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Controversy
!Year started - Year Ended
!Background Info
!Aftermath
!Related Article
|-
|Inability to delete
|2018 – Present
|During major updates for Windows, users have been reporting their installations of Edge being reinstalled to their devices without their consent.<ref>https://www.windowscentral.com/how-prevent-microsoft-edge-chromium-installing-automatically-windows-10</ref>
|No change
|
|-
|Importing content from other browsers without consent
|2020 – ?
|Users have reported on frequent occasions that Edge has imported user data from browsers such as Chrome and Firefox without first requesting consent from the user.<ref>https://www.komando.com/news/microsoft-edge-caught-importing-data/</ref>
|Unknown if it still occurs
|
|-
|Resetting primary browser
|2017 – Present
|Windows has frequently been resetting the default browser to Edge<ref>https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/default-browser-keeps-changing-to-edge/25e2939d-4674-40ab-b05a-6161e2297976</ref> without consent.<ref name=":1" /> While there are methods to disable this,<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/15zbjar/default_browser_keeps_changing_to_microsoft_edge/</ref> it is tedious to achieve, especially for users who are not tech-savvy.
|Continues to happen
|
|}

===Windows 11===

====TPM 2.0 chip requirements====
While reasonably circumventable,<ref>https://www.starwindsoftware.com/blog/bypass-tpm-and-install-windows-11-on-unsupported-hardware/</ref> Microsoft's decision to lock down Windows 11 to computers with Trusted Platform Module 2.0 chips (TPMs) has forced the hands of both consumers and companies alike to dispose of hardware that would otherwise be perfectly acceptable to use.<ref>https://securityonline.info/windows-11s-tpm-2-0-free-software-foundation-fights-forced-upgrades-and-e-waste/</ref> This has also caused Microsoft to frequently remind Windows 10 users to upgrade their hardware to be compatible with Windows 11,<ref>https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-revives-pop-ups-in-windows-10-to-push-windows-11-upgrades</ref><ref>https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-embarrasses-itself-with-windows-10-pop-up-that-hogs-the-desktop-urging-an-upgrade-to-windows-11-then-promptly-crashes</ref> which has caused many users frequent agitation.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoft/comments/19dvs9k/any_way_to_disable_the_upgrade_to_windows_11_ads/</ref>

====Recall====
In 2024, Microsoft unveiled Recall,<ref name=":0">https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-reveals-ai-powered-recall-feature-to-transform-windows-11s-searchability-while-confirming-hardware-requirements</ref> marketed as a way to search through what you have done on your computer by recording your screen. This sparked controversy,<ref>https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsofts-controversial-recall-feature-for-windows-11-could-already-be-in-legal-hot-water</ref> especially among security experts<ref>https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/feature/Privacy-and-security-risks-surrounding-Microsoft-Recall</ref> who worried about the security of screenshots,<ref>https://news.sky.com/story/microsoft-ai-feature-investigated-by-uk-watchdog-over-screenshots-13141171</ref> since it could easily document private information like social-security numbers, bank-account information, and passwords, as well as user browsing behavior. A Python script was developed, called "TotalRecall", that collects the screenshots and descriptions of these recordings,<ref>https://github.com/xaitax/TotalRecall</ref> proving the danger of Recall.<ref name=":0" /> This feature was delayed after backlash from users.<ref>https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2024/06/microsoft-recall-delayed-after-privacy-and-security-concerns</ref>

===Microsoft account dark patterns when installing Windows===
[[File:MSInstall.png|thumb|An image of a Windows 10 installation, to illustrate the effort required to make an account unattached to a Microsoft account.]]
Numerous [[dark patterns]] have been implemented in the form of vague language and a confusing user interface, which hides the option to create an account without a Microsoft account under sub-menus and small text. The dark patterns in the Windows installation menu have been in place since Windows 10 was launched in 2015, and continue into the Windows 11 installation process.

===Removal of games===
In early September 2016, Microsoft shut down Xbox Live Indie Games,<ref>https://www.polygon.com/2015/9/9/9297959/xbox-live-indie-games-shutting-down</ref> and in late July 2024, Microsoft shut down its storefront for Xbox 360 games.<ref>https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2023/08/17/xbox-360-store-will-close-july-2024/</ref> These shutdowns have made it impossible to obtain new copies of, or in some cases, even play, hundreds of games.

=== Microsoft 365 ===
In January 2025, YouTuber Atomic Shrimp reported<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYVPThx7yss</ref> that Microsoft had enacted a "forced upsell" of 365's new AI co-pilot feature. Users with basic accounts, such as Shrimp himself, had been informed their subscription fee was going up, but that they would enjoy new features as a result, including the co-pilot. Shrimp subsequently discovered that Microsoft now offered "Classic" plans, identical to the old basic plans both in features and in subscription fee. These, however, were only visible to enterprise users, not to personal users.

==References==
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