Brave Browser and AdGuard Take Stand Against Microsoft Recall Over Privacy Concerns
The Brave web browser and the ad-blocking service AdGuard have announced they will block Microsoft Recall by default, citing serious privacy risks. Recall, an AI-powered feature in Windows 11, captures and stores everything displayed on a user’s screen, raising alarms among privacy-focused software developers.
AdGuard described the decision as necessary due to inherent privacy concerns, calling the idea of continuous background screen captures unsettling. In a blog post, the company warned that Recall could inadvertently save sensitive information, such as private chat messages, credit card details entered in online forms, or other personal data users may not want stored.
Brave echoed these concerns, emphasizing that Recall could log a user’s entire browsing history. The company stressed the importance of preventing browsing activity from being stored in a database vulnerable to misuse, particularly in situations where privacy is critical. Brave noted that its stance was partly inspired by Signal, the encrypted messaging app, which had previously taken action against Recall in May. Signal had urged developers of similar AI tools to consider privacy implications more carefully.
Despite the backlash, Microsoft markets Recall as a productivity tool, allowing users to revisit past screen activity, including web pages, documents, emails, and chats. The feature is currently available on select Copilot+ PCs. Both Brave and AdGuard provide options to re-enable Recall for users who choose to use it, though they caution against potential risks.
The debate highlights growing tensions between AI-driven convenience and digital privacy, with security-conscious platforms taking proactive steps to shield users from unintended data exposure. As AI features become more embedded in operating systems, the pushback from privacy advocates is likely to intensify.
