Microsoft’s new Outlook for Windows has transformed into a surveillance tool for targeted advertising. While Google and Apple are often criticized for their privacy-washing campaigns, it seems that Outlook is also collecting user data for Microsoft and its 772 external partners. European users are at least informed about this data sharing, but Americans are left in the dark due to a lack of privacy legislation. The new Outlook prompts users to choose how ads appear on their screens, and even Mac users will encounter ads in their inbox. Furthermore, the integration of Outlook with cloud services raises privacy concerns as it grants Microsoft access to user credentials, emails, contacts, and events. Microsoft is enabling itself to access email accounts and potentially use the data however it wants. Professor Ulrich Kelber, the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information of Germany, expressed concern about these data capabilities. However, Microsoft has not publicly responded to criticisms. Microsoft’s advertising policy claims that personal data from emails, chats, and documents is not used to target ads, but other data such as interests, location, and search queries are used. The company collects a range of personal data, from names and contact information to feedback and ratings. Microsoft has been following in the footsteps of other tech giants like Google and
https://proton.me/blog/outlook-is-microsofts-new-data-collection-service