Microsoft Updates its Privacy & Services Statements

Microsoft Privacy Statement
"This privacy statement explains what personal data we collect from you and how we use it."
Of note, "Bing services include search and mapping services, as well as the Bing Toolbar and Bing Desktop apps. Bing services are also included within other Microsoft services, such as MSN Apps and Cortana, and Windows (which we refer to as Bing-powered experiences). When you use Bing services, we collect your search queries, location and other information about your interaction with our services."
privacy.microsoft.com/.../privacystatement

Microsoft Services Agreement
The updates to the Microsoft Services Agreement will take effect on September 15, 2016.
www.microsoft.com/.../upcoming.aspx

Comments:

- These are ponderous statements to either read or navigate. Contrary to MS' s claim that they aim for "transparency", they are anything but that. There are more "Learn More" and other info links in these statements than one can shake a stick at. What is clear however is that MS collects data on you from just about all its services and products (Bing, Skype, MSN, OneDrive, Outlook, Silverlight, xBox, Office, Microsoft Health Services, Groove streaming media, Cortana, and others), and shares them with affiliates, subsidiaries, partners (including third party ad companies), and law enforcement agencies as required. Finally, MS will "access, transfer, disclose, and preserve personal data, including your content (such as the content of your emails in Outlook.com, or files in private folders on OneDrive)" for a number of reasons outlined in the statement. Which all adds up to there being very little privacy, in my opinion.

- Much as I like many of the features of Windows 10, so much of it is now managed in the Cloud over which the end user has little, if any, control. The upcoming "Anniversary Update" (which will be installed automatically) is particulary problematic in this regard. (Win XP ironically was the last MS operating system I felt allowed me control over what software got installed).