The EFF praise Microsoft's Windows 10 Creators Update's improved privacy controls

Yesterday the Swiss Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC) announced their satisfaction with the improvements Microsoft made to the Windows 10 setup process in the Creators Update which ensured consumers were more informed regarding Microsoft’s data collection processes.

Now the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has joined them, with Maul Kalia, legal intake coordinator at the EFF saying “The changes were very welcome from our perspective,” noting ““They were definitely needed.”

Microsoft is introducing a new setup (aka OOBE) experience on Windows 10 which will include the most important privacy settings in one place. While setting up a new PC or a fresh install of Windows 10, users will be able to control any privacy settings they want — this includes Location, Speech Recognition, Diagnostics, Tips, and “Relevant” ads.

Along with the improved privacy control in Windows 10, Microsoft is also giving users better control over their privacy on the web. The company is launching a new privacy dashboard for its users, which will allow them to control all of their Microsoft Account’s privacy settings from a central dashboard.

“These are solid and welcome steps,” Kalia said of the new privacy dashboard that. “But we do still want the company to be more forthcoming.”

“More transparency is what we want from the company,” he said.

Kalia confirmed Microsoft has consulted with the EFF on the changes that were needed, but did not elaborate on the content of the talks.

“I’m glad they took some of our suggestions to heart, and we’re happy that they did that, but we’d prefer them to be more transparent with users about what is collected and why,” said Kalia.

The Creators Update is set to be released this April. If you are a Windows Insider running build 15002, you should be able to use the new privacy controls in the updated OOBE today.