@remixtures Or even better, use an open source alternative like LibreOffice (that as a bonus makes use of a standard document format).

@remixtures

Hey @libreoffice you might want to highlight this is happening when encouraging people to switch to LibreOffice?

Why do people use latest versions of Microsoft Office? The one that corresponds to Windows 7 still works just fine and has none of that shit.

@remixtures Only here to shill Libre Office. Been using it for years and it just works. Switch to FOSS and take back control of your data.

https://www.libreoffice.org/

@remixtures I wonder how all the big corporations feel about having their secrets scraped?

@remixtures The easiest way: choose #LibreOffice and de-install MS Office.

@remixtures I don't understand is it really hard to switch to other #FOSS alternatives like #Libreoffice and #Onlyoffice.

@remixtures they've been doing this for years. Captcha also!

@remixtures thanks for sharing.
That's horrible, and I guess illegal in Europe + UK because I don't see it in my settings (I am currently in UK)... Would be good if other countries improved their privacy laws to at least match European ones..

@remixtures Good timing. My Office 365 subscription just renewed a few days ago, and I was lamenting that I wasn't getting my money's worth from it. Well, now I have LibreOffice installed and got a $75 refund. Thanks.

@remixtures how about an opt-out from Microsoft

@remixtures
I'll make sure it's turned on while I test some VBA code to generate gigabytes of pseudorandom numbers and create a bunch of charts from them.

@remixtures

Thank you. Very helpful.

@remixtures
And do this each time Windows updates.

@remixtures Thank you for the heads-up.

@remixtures so then you send it to someone who hasn’t opted out to read

@remixtures

And that is why we use Notepad. Or Open Office in a pinch.

@remixtures Could someone please fact-check this? I had a look at the setting in question, and I can't see any reference to data uploads or AI training. I also didn't find any reliable sources that this setting has anything to do with uploading your content for AI training purposes. I'm not saying it isn't conceivable that MS does this, but I don't think the "Optional Connected Experiences" has anything to do with it.

@remixtures wonder if this is a thing in europe. I hunted the same checkbox multiple times in dropbox and its just not there. I guess you can't do that in europe due to the GDPR.

@remixtures How has Microsoft not been sued over this for all the HIPAA violations. Or are we going to pretend medical organizations don't use Office?

@remixtures @Mrfunkedude
@FirewallDragons

@remixtures Thank you

@remixtures@tldr.nettime.org

I'm still using Office 2019 (when I need to use Office at all). Some of my customers require the use of their O365, so it's unlikely I can change settings managed via organization policies. All just more reason not to try to maintain personal sovereignty of data. Just wish that "locking" data in the cloud was easier to do.

@remixtures Nah tell you what I did. I manually uninstalled Windows and put Linux on everything for free 👍

@remixtures you could try Libre Office.

@remixtures https://brands.town/@TheClippy/113504615968733938

@remixtures Here's a note for the "why don't you just switch" crowd. Enterprise inertia.

They're not going to give up Microsoft Office, so the rest of us need to keep using their stuff.

Thank you Miguel. This is a greatly appreciated warning. Also, on a Macintosh, go to Word > Preferences > Privacy > Learn more about the Microsoft Services Agreement...
and uncheck "Turn on optional connected experiences"

Cheers!

@remixtures They just never give up.

@remixtures or you could.just migrate to @libreoffice cuz #LibreOffice Writer neither has an #AlwaysOnlineDRM ¹ nor does it have #BuzzwordDrivenDevelopment like #AI-based #Enshittification!

@remixtures I still can't believe "opt out" is legal.

Privacy violations always should have been opt in. Never opt out.

@remixtures Don't opt out of the feature. Opt out of Microsoft Office. You shouldn't have to toggle off a long set of user violating defaults just to use a product without your privacy and IP being violated.

@remixtures I've switched to #LibreOffice and love it, but thanks for this important PSA re: #privacy and #ai

@remixtures I wonder how lawyers feel about privileged docs being used for this purpose.

@remixtures
The easy way to opt out
https://www.libreoffice.org/

@remixtures @msbellows I am so glad to have an ancient copy of MS Office 2011 for Mac that I cherish. I do most of my writing in Scrivener, by a small company which will likely never behave like this, but still use Word, Excel, etc when I have to. I'm going to try to hold into these as long as possible. I've turned off auto updates on everything that will let me. And I'll soon be looking into moving my clients' communications away from Google Docs to maybe something like Proton.

@remixtures support FOSS

@remixtures
I'm using an old version, so they're not getting to mine. Also, for most stuff, I use LibreOffice. (There are some things I can't get it to do.)

@remixtures I'm starting to feel about #Microsoft the same way I feel about Donald; both seem committed to destroying what works.

@remixtures On MacOS, remove the check-mark at the end of this path: Word > Preferences > Privacy > Manage Connected Experiences > Turn on experiences that analyse your content

@remixtures You must also activate your own internal blind trust that Microsoft won't just scrape anything you type anyway. I don't recommend trusting them with absolutely anything.

@remixtures
Or you could just try using SoftMaker Office instead. It's cheaper and doesn't spy on you, and is the most compatible-with-MSOffice word processor out there.

"This setting is turned on by default, and you have to manually uncheck a box in order to opt out."

@remixtures I use since 1995 Linux. To use #microsoft and #apple products just shows: the user doesen't care about his data.
So what is the problem?😜

@remixtures i did this, and now when I open Word i cant see any of the files i have saved to OneDrive. Is there any way to stop the AI scraping without shutting down inter-app functions?

@remixtures@tldr.nettime.org There are dozens of alternative options for writers, and a healthy amount for Excel. There really is no need to be using MS product in the year of our lord 2024. Imagine actually paying to then spend your life dealing with their massive amounts of bullshit. Ludicrous.

@remixtures If you are a writer who uses MS Word to write any proprietary content (blog posts, novels, or any work you intend to protect with copyright and/or sell), you’re a fucking moron and you should leave this feature on so you'll keep poisoning Microsoft's data with your inane bullshit.

@remixtures FWIW, in contrast, I was formerly a professional business writer who had most content used without permit or license by offshore thieves decades ago. It no longer bothers me and I have no expectation of privacy or protection now. People who seek privacy seem to me to be fighting a losing battle. I use Microsoft 365 including Copilot daily in my work and personal life now.