Microsoft collects voice recordings when you use voice-enabled features like Cortana or dictation, and may use these recordings to improve speech recognition. You can delete voice data through your account settings.
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Voice data is a sensitive biometric-adjacent category of personal data; the statement authorizes its collection and use for service improvement, and consumers in states with biometric privacy laws such as Illinois should be aware of this practice.
Interpretive note: Whether voice recordings constitute biometric data or biometric identifiers under state biometric privacy laws such as Illinois BIPA depends on jurisdiction-specific statutory definitions and ongoing case law.
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Using voice features in any Microsoft product may result in voice recordings being collected and used for speech recognition improvement. Users can delete collected voice data by navigating to their Microsoft account privacy settings.
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"We collect voice data—such as your search queries, voice commands, and short phrases—when you use voice features. We may use your voice data to improve speech recognition and related services. You can turn off voice features at any time, and previously collected voice data can be deleted through your Microsoft account settings.— Excerpt from Microsoft's Microsoft Privacy Statement (Legacy)
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Voice data collection may implicate Illinois BIPA where voice recordings constitute biometric identifiers or biometric information as defined under that statute; GDPR Article 9 on special categories of data may apply if voice data is used in a way that could identify health, ethnic, or other sensitive characteristics; the FTC Act applies to representations about voice data practices. Enforcement authorities include the Illinois Attorney General (for BIPA), EU data protection authorities, and the FTC. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. The classification of voice recordings as biometric data under Illinois BIPA is subject to ongoing legal interpretation; organizations deploying Microsoft voice features for employees or customers in Illinois should assess BIPA exposure. GDPR data minimization and purpose limitation requirements apply to voice data used for model improvement. JURISDICTION FLAGS: Illinois BIPA creates heightened exposure for voice data collection and use; Texas and Washington state biometric privacy laws may also be relevant. EU and UK users are entitled to specific GDPR protections for voice data that may qualify as biometric data under applicable interpretation. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Enterprise agreements should be reviewed to assess whether voice data collected through Microsoft products in workplace settings is governed by additional data processing terms and whether employee notice and consent obligations apply. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Compliance teams should assess whether voice data collection through Microsoft products triggers BIPA notice and consent obligations; review GDPR data protection impact assessment requirements where voice data is processed at scale; and ensure deletion mechanisms described in the statement are technically functional.
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Voice data is a sensitive biometric-adjacent category of personal data; the statement authorizes its collection and use for service improvement, and consumers in states with biometric privacy laws such as Illinois should be aware of this practice.
Using voice features in any Microsoft product may result in voice recordings being collected and used for speech recognition improvement. Users can delete collected voice data by navigating to their Microsoft account privacy settings.
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