Microsoft Azure · Microsoft Privacy · View original document ↗

Voice and Handwriting Data Collection

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This analysis describes what Microsoft Azure's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

The clause establishes the scope of input data collection mechanisms across voice and text modalities. This specification defines what categories of user-generated input data the service captures and processes as part of normal operation.

Recent Activity

This document changed recently

Medium Apr 19, 2026

Microsoft now discloses that it may contact you by phone for marketing using automated dialers and AI-generated voices if you have consented to marketing communications, which represents a new disclosure of contact method and technology type. The company has also reorganized its data retention policy to state it retains data for broader business purposes including improving products and protecting systems, while removing previous specific examples and retention criteria, making it less clear exactly how long specific types of your data will be kept. You should review your consent settings for marketing communications and verify what contact methods you have authorized, particularly if you have concerns about automated or AI-generated calls.

View change record →
Medium Apr 1, 2026

Microsoft's privacy policy now provides a less detailed explanation of how long your data is retained. Previously, the policy included specific examples, such as how long deleted emails remain in your system before final deletion, and listed criteria for deciding retention periods. Now those details are consolidated into a more general statement pointing readers to separate product documentation. This means you'll need to consult multiple documents to understand retention timelines for specific services, which reduces transparency at the point of reading the main privacy policy.

View change record →
Medium Mar 6, 2026

Microsoft's updated retention policy provides greater specificity about how long your data persists and under what conditions it is deleted. The policy now explicitly states that deleted items from OneDrive and Outlook.com may remain in Microsoft's systems for up to 30 days before permanent removal, even after you empty the Deleted Items folder. Additionally, the updated terms clarify that retention periods depend on whether you have an expectation that Microsoft will keep the data until you actively remove it, and whether automated controls exist to let you access and delete data yourself. You can review Microsoft's privacy dashboard to exercise available deletion controls and understand which services retain your data under these criteria.

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Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Users' voice communications, dictation, typing, and input device interactions are collected and retained by the service. The terms apply as written upon continued use, meaning ongoing use of voice and text input features constitutes acceptance of this data collection practice.

How other platforms handle this

Windsurf Medium

Our Services allow you to input your voice to generate Prompts and other text transcriptions. We process your voice audio to convert it into Prompts and other text transcriptions and then discard the audio after the processing is complete. We retain and use audio text transcriptions as Log and Usage...

Roblox Medium

Your use of the Services is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using the Services, you consent to the data collection and use practices described in the Privacy Policy. Roblox collects information you provide directly, information collected a...

Best Buy Medium

We collect information about you in a variety of ways depending on how you interact with us and our products and services. This includes information you provide directly, information we collect automatically when you use our services, and information we receive from third parties. We may collect ide...

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
Voice data. Your voice data, sometimes referred to as "voice clips", such as search queries, commands, or dictation you speak, which may include background sounds. Text, inking, and typing data. Text, inking, and typing data and related information. For example, when we collect inking data, we collect information about the placement of your inking instrument on your device.

— Excerpt from Microsoft Azure's Microsoft Privacy

Applicable regulations

CCPA/CPRA
California, USA
Connecticut Data Privacy Act Amendments
US-CT
CAN-SPAM
United States Federal
DMA
European Union
ePrivacy Directive
European Union
FTC Act Section 5
United States Federal
GDPR
European Union
Indiana Consumer Data Protection Act
US-IN
Kentucky Consumer Data Protection Act
US-KY
Universal Opt-Out Mechanism Expansion 2026
US

Provision details

Document information
Document
Microsoft Privacy
Entity
Microsoft Azure
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
April 27, 2026
Last verified
May 10, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-000158
Document ID
CA-D-00018
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
a67035af599dcfcefd7a22ae7c70147370fe6651cb96942500cd2ead91f2a017
Analysis generated
April 27, 2026 09:55 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Microsoft Azure
Document: Microsoft Privacy
Record ID: CA-P-000158
Captured: 2026-04-27 09:55:26 UTC
SHA-256: a67035af599dcfce…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/microsoft-azure/microsoft-privacy/voice-and-handwriting-data-collection/
Accessed: May 20, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Microsoft Azure's Voice and Handwriting Data Collection clause do?

The clause establishes the scope of input data collection mechanisms across voice and text modalities. This specification defines what categories of user-generated input data the service captures and processes as part of normal operation.

How does this clause affect you?

Users' voice communications, dictation, typing, and input device interactions are collected and retained by the service. The terms apply as written upon continued use, meaning ongoing use of voice and text input features constitutes acceptance of this data collection practice.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Microsoft Azure?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Microsoft Azure.