Microsoft improves Microsoft Office privacy policy to comply with the GDPR survey of European Union

In the just-released Microsoft Office Insider 1904 preview, Microsoft provides users with more transparency in user data collection. The new preview mainly adds two new settings in the account data protection option to allow the user to switch: necessary diagnostic data, optional diagnostic data. The necessary diagnostic data is only those analytical data that must be sent to Microsoft. The user cannot close the software and upload it automatically when it is connected to the Internet.

Image: Microsoft

Microsoft said diagnostic data is necessary for the smooth operation of the Microsoft Office family of software, so Microsoft collected the data for analysis. Optional diagnostic data includes crashes or other erroneous data during software use, which can help Microsoft improve product stability. Essentially, this is no different from Windows 10 telemetry data analysis. Simply put, Microsoft needs to maintain transparency when collecting data. Users who are using the preview version can now actively switch between the setup options, and it is expected that the above features will be pushed to the official version.

At the end of last year, the investigation committee of the European Union member states announced the formal involvement in the investigation about the transparency of the Microsoft Office series of software. The Dutch regulator believes that Microsoft’s data strategy does not meet the requirements of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulations, so Microsoft must make the necessary improvements. This is why Microsoft’s new diagnostic data option has increased transparency. If Microsoft does not improve in time, it will be subject to very high fines.

Via: mspoweruser, WindowsUnited