Consumer_Action_Taskforce

Microsoft: Difference between revisions

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added a comment, and merged controversies and anti-consumer practices sections, as the latter has a non-neutral title, and did not really need to be in a separate section
Minor tone adjustments, also added a new introduction.
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Microsoft had stated that Windows 10 would be the last Windows version, but now they are forcing users into Windows 11 by discontinuing free official support for Windows 10 starting on October 14, 2025<ref>https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/end-of-support</ref> . Windows 11 also new requirements for the installation, including a Microsoft account<!-- As this can be fairly easily bypassed, i'm not sure describing a microsoft account as a requirement is an appropriate word use? -->, TPM (trusted platform module).<ref>https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-specifications</ref><ref>https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-system-requirements-86c11283-ea52-4782-9efd-7674389a7ba3</ref> Many PCs made before X year do not have this hardware. It is notable that most of these restrictions can be bypassed. New Windows 11 builds are now shipping with Microsoft Copilot which is a pre-installed opt-out AI program.<ref>https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11</ref><!-- Unsure how appropriate this is for a company page... seems more like an incident. A page about microsoft should really just focus on an overview, and linking to relevant Incident pages, and the other high-level things discussed on the article types page. -->
Microsoft is an American technology company founded in 1975. They are well known for the Windows operating system, Microsoft Edge and Outlook. Microsoft has faced many controversies over the years, including several antitrust lawsuits and general anti-consumer practices.<!-- Unsure how appropriate this is for a company page... seems more like an incident. A page about microsoft should really just focus on an overview, and linking to relevant Incident pages, and the other high-level things discussed on the article types page. -->


== Controversies ==
== Controversies ==
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=== Edge<!-- tone is way off here -->===
=== Edge<!-- tone is way off here -->===
Microsoft's web browser, Edge, has also been a major problem for consumers. Windows comes with it preinstalled, and while it is possible to remove, Microsoft makes it harder and harder with each update. They state the reason for this as follows: "Our default web browser is an essential component of our operating system and can’t be uninstalled."<ref>https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/why-can-t-i-uninstall-microsoft-edge-ee150b3b-7d7a-9984-6d83-eb36683d526d</ref>
Microsoft's web browser, Edge, comes preinstalled on Windows and cannot be removed through ordinary means, typically also being reinstalled after major updates.<ref>https://www.windowscentral.com/how-prevent-microsoft-edge-chromium-installing-automatically-windows-10</ref> Edge was also shown to import user data from Chrome and Firefox without asking for user consent.<ref>https://www.komando.com/news/microsoft-edge-caught-importing-data/</ref>
 
=== Windows ===
 
==== Forced Updates ====
Beginning with Windows 10, updates were no longer able to be selectively chosen by the end user, instead updates are automatically scheduled when your 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 due to bugged updates that cannot be avoided<ref>https://www.tomsguide.com/news/windows-10-update-is-bricking-pcs-uninstall-this-right-now</ref>.


=== Windows 11 ===
=== Windows 11 ===
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