Tuesday, November 26th 2024

Microsoft Office Tools Reportedly Collect Data for AI Training, Requiring Manual Opt-Out

Microsoft's Office suite is the staple in productivity tools, with millions of users entering sensitive personal and company data into Excel and Word. According to @nixCraft, an author from Cyberciti.biz, Microsoft left its "Connected Experiences" feature enabled by default, reportedly using user-generated content to train the company's AI models. This feature is enabled by default, meaning data from Word and Excel files may be used in AI development unless users manually opt-out. As a default option, this setting raises security concerns, especially from businesses and government workers relying on Microsoft Office for proprietary work. The feature allows documents such as articles, government data, and other confidential files to be included in AI training, creating ethical and legal challenges regarding consent and intellectual property.

Disabling the feature requires going to: File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Privacy Options > Privacy Settings > Optional Connected Experiences, and unchecking the box. Even with an unnecessary long opt-out steps, the European Union's GPDR agreement, which Microsoft complies with, requires all settings to be opt-in rather than opt-out by default. This directly contradicts EU GDPR laws, which could prompt an investigation from the EU. Microsoft has yet to confirm whether user content is actively being used to train its AI models. However, its Services Agreement includes a clause granting the company a "worldwide and royalty-free intellectual property license" to use user-generated content for purposes such as improving Microsoft products. The controversy raised from this is not new, especially where more companies leverage user data for AI development, often without explicit consent.
For the current LLM AI models, the data on which they are being trained is the key to distinguishing them from competitors. Quality data is the prize, and when a unique dataset like the one Microsoft has access to is collected, that AI model could outperform the competition by a mile in tasks like writing and basic reasoning. Especially with sensitive data not available to the public, Microsoft could extend its AI lead. However, LLMs are not immune to leaking a part of their training data, so a skilled professional could extract it. For now, users who wish to protect their intellectual property are advised to review their settings carefully.

Update Nov 26th 08:00 UTC: Microsoft reached out to us via email and confirmed:
Statement from MicrosoftMicrosoft does not use customer data from Microsoft 365 consumer and commercial applications to train large language models. Additionally, the Connected Services setting has no connection to how Microsoft trains large language models.
Connected Experiences allows users to search and download online content to enhance their documents. This includes templates, images, 3D models, videos, and reference materials. Examples include Microsoft Office templates and PowerPoint QuickStarter presentations. Microsoft has also provided a table of what Connected Experiences downloads, which you can see below:
Source: via Tom's Hardware
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56 Comments on Microsoft Office Tools Reportedly Collect Data for AI Training, Requiring Manual Opt-Out

#1
windwhirl
I'm not sure if I recall correctly, but that checkbox might have been enabled by default for a number of years now.
Posted on Reply
#2
Shihab
I don't believe it's a simple "grab what those suckers are typing on Word to train Cortana (or whatever it's called these days)," but hey, if the FUD helps get more people -and funding/resources- Libre/Open office's way, I'm game!

Should start fanning the flames at Google's side as well.
Posted on Reply
#3
TumbleGeorge
Your personal and company secrets are guaranteed to be protected. /s
Posted on Reply
#4
_roman_
The option exists. Do not complain! Well several levels below

File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Privacy Options > Privacy Settings > Optional Connected Experiences, and unchecking the box.
Posted on Reply
#6
Paganstomp
SO this is why Office 365 is down??? I'm taking a guess... AI is on strike? Like some Airlines are about to do this week? Food for thought? ( I'm always in that outside left field. Looking at dandelions. )
Posted on Reply
#7
windwhirl
PaganstompI'm always in that outside left field. Looking at dandelions.
The real "I touch grass"?
PaganstompSO this is why Office 365 is down?
Seems to be working fine for me right now.
Posted on Reply
#8
SSGBryan
I don't see the DoD "upgrading" to this anytime soon.
Posted on Reply
#9
Vayra86
PaganstompSO this is why Office 365 is down??? I'm taking a guess... AI is on strike? Like some Airlines are about to do this week? Food for thought? ( I'm always in that outside left field. Looking at dandelions. )
Its a strange world we've landed in when Word doesn't work anymore because no internet.

Wtf
Posted on Reply
#10
windwhirl
Vayra86Its a strange world we've landed in when Word doesn't work anymore because no internet.

Wtf
I think they meant the online version. Not the locally executable program.
Posted on Reply
#11
kapone32
Unfortunately my Company has fully subscribed to 365. Of course so they can spy on Individual work PCs but the trade off is lock outs,system outages and the best we have SAP cloud for SAP and you know how those 2 play with each other,....not.
Posted on Reply
#12
Vayra86
eidairaman1Office 2007 ftw
Still rocking Office XP like a baws here. Basically I found a 'safe' way to still get that sweet retro UI
Posted on Reply
#13
Steevo
My email for work is janky and my personal one is refusing to load.

The uprising has begun, hopefully they start with insurance cause that’s what I need it for.
Posted on Reply
#14
Dr. Dro


Can't wait for Microsoft to start training their AI on confidential documents and have their LLMs drop a few government secrets or two. Then Microsoft and their lawyers will learn the true weight of an EULA.

I won't be renewing my Microsoft 365 subscription once it elapses in January. Might just pay for Apple One instead. Or better yet - a year of Proton Unlimited, way things are going, looks like a solid VPN will be a must for the distinguished netizen in 2025.
Posted on Reply
#15
Shihab
Dr. DroCan't wait for Microsoft to start training their AI on confidential documents and have their LLMs drop a few government secrets or two. Then Microsoft and their lawyers will learn the true weight of an EULA.
Going to be tricky fitting the lot of 'em inside the Ecuadorian embassy. Perhaps the Cubans could spare a bunk or two...
Posted on Reply
#16
chrcoluk
Thank you for reporting this, I think Onedrive is been used for similar purposes, since a AI update for Onedrive some months ago, its constantly uploading data at intervals (with nothing to sync), I already reported it to UK government officials and EU antitrust.

Also there has been an update to office 365 which has trashed the UI look, it used to have a background graphic in the toolbar, I think mine was set to stencil, that feature is still listed in the options, but since they added a colour feature, those graphics are now no longer rendered and it looks really plain, its pretty bad as the toolbars on Office ignore windows configured toolbar sizes and as such are really big on my system (Edge also ignores windows configured toolbar sizes).

Just checked, my box is already unticked.

I can also see something is gone from my ribbon. Not quite sure what, but I know something is gone as things have moved.
Posted on Reply
#17
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
Vayra86Its a strange world we've landed in when Word doesn't work anymore because no internet.

Wtf
Y2k happened with cloudstrike.
Vayra86Still rocking Office XP like a baws here. Basically I found a 'safe' way to still get that sweet retro UI
I loved 97, 2000 was good as well. 2007 is the beginning of the doc(x) format compatibility, that is why i use it, nothing newer
Posted on Reply
#18
windwhirl
chrcolukI think Onedrive is been used for similar purposes, since a AI update for Onedrive some months ago, its constantly uploading data at intervals (with nothing to sync),
That's normal operation for Onedrive.

Besides, they don't need a reupload of files they already have so for AI-training purposes they could just use what's present on the cloud without you ever knowing.
chrcolukI can also see something is gone from my ribbon. Not quite sure what, but I know something is gone as things have moved.
Hmm... Editor maybe? I think that requires you to have some online connected feature enabled.
Vayra86Still rocking Office XP like a baws here. Basically I found a 'safe' way to still get that sweet retro UI
And Clippy, right? :D
Posted on Reply
#19
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
windwhirlThat's normal operation for Onedrive.

Besides, they don't need a reupload of files they already have so for AI-training purposes they could just use what's present on the cloud without you ever knowing.


Hmm... Editor maybe? I think that requires you to have some online connected feature enabled.


And Clippy, right? :D
97 and 2000, Freddy the Paperclip "Clipit/Clippy" is missing after that iirc
Posted on Reply
#20
windwhirl
eidairaman197 and 2000, Freddy the Paperclip "Clipit/Clippy" is missing after that iirc
Nah, it exists until Office 2003, but it's either not installed or enabled by default in 2003, IIRC
Posted on Reply
#21
Alan Smithee
This is completely wrong; just check yourself. The box that's checked has clear explanations and does not involve AI training. Of course this won't stop people complaining.
Posted on Reply
#22
Wirko
Looks like I've found just the right retro thread to ask, and maybe not be ridiculed...

How the hell do I transplant Outlook Express from Windows XP to Windows 7, 10 and 11?
Posted on Reply
#23
chrcoluk
windwhirlThat's normal operation for Onedrive.
Never happened for me until the update.

There is also plenty of files for them to scour on my system, that I dont upload.
Posted on Reply
#24
Tartaros
Sounds like a good time to jump ship to other alternatives. Incidentally, the key from my Office 2021 was revoked for some reason, and instead of looking for it in my docs, I just went to Libre Office. It has improved a lot since the last time I used it about 10 years ago. The same with the new Outlook, I don't like it's new layout and just went back to Thunderbird, which had to do an overhaul at some point but it's pretty nice.

I can't believe Microsoft is making the same kind of slimy mistakes that made them such a hated company 20 years ago.
Posted on Reply
#25
mechtech
eidairaman1Office 2007 ftw
I was going to say 2003 pro ;)

The best thing about this

File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Privacy Options > Privacy Settings > Optional Connected Experiences, and unchecking the box.

Is "trust center and trust center settings"

lol
Posted on Reply
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