Microsoft’s new โGamingโข Copilot feature on Windows 11 is actively taking screenshots of gameplay, raising privacy concerns despite assurances it’s not intended โฃfor AI training โขdata. Initial reports surfaced fromโข users noticing unexpected network traffic after a recent โขupdate, promptingโ examination into the feature’s data handling practices.
While Microsoftโ statesโ the Gaming Copilot,โฃ accessible through the Xbox Game Bar, requires explicit opt-in fromโข players, some users report activation followingโฃ updates without their consent. This โdiscrepancy, coupled withโ the ability โขto run the Copilot onโ systems lacking a Neural โProcessing Unit (NPU) – hardware previously considered essential for on-device AI โprocessing โฃ- suggests gameplay data may be analyzed remotely onโค Microsoft’s servers, or relies solely โon CPU and GPU processing.โค The โคsituation is especially sensitive given European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) guidelines, and Microsoft โplansโ to broadly deploy the Copilot to all Windows 11 systemsโข via theโค Game Bar.