By Sonya Rabbitte, 27 July 2001 13:45
NEWS US privacy groups have filed a complaint with the FTC over alleged privacy breaches in Microsoft's forthcoming OS, Windows XP. The privacy pundits, led by the Electronic Privacy Information Centre claim Microsoft has included registration features in XP, allowing it to track millions of users. The complaint centres on Passport, a service that allows users to store personal details such as address books and credit card details online. EPIC claims the registration process misleads users into believing that they must register with Passport if they want to access the internet and receive technical support from Microsoft. The group also says Microsoft has failed to provide adequate online security for Passport users. Jim Allchin, group VP Windows platforms Microsoft, said: "We consider these allegations to be very serious but the product I see being written about is not the product I am developing. It's not about us hiding MSN technology - we're into choice." The privacy pundits are asking the FTC to demand Microsoft change its registration process so XP users can opt out of the Passport scheme. The wider .NET initiative may also contravene European Union law.
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