Last Updated on: 26th February 2026, 08:14 pm
A growing debate around privacy in modern operating systems has taken a sharper turn. The Centre for Digital Rights and Democracy is now warning users to think twice before upgrading to Windows 11.
Instead, the group recommends staying on Windows 10 for as long as security updates are still available. And after that, they suggest considering alternatives like Linux.
This warning has caught attention across tech communities and privacy forums.
Why Are Experts Concerned?
The main issue revolves around Microsoft’s AI-powered feature called Recall.
Recall is designed to automatically record and save snapshots of your screen activity. It helps users search past actions and content more easily.
But privacy experts argue this could create serious risks.
According to the Centre for Digital Rights and Democracy, the feature may unintentionally capture:
Even if the tool is meant to be helpful, storing that much personal data continuously creates new exposure points.
🔒 GDPR CONCERNS
Continuous background recording of screen content could potentially conflict with privacy principles such as data minimization, purpose limitation, and user consent clarity.
Possible GDPR Concerns
Another concern raised by experts is compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR.
Continuous background recording of screen content could potentially conflict with privacy principles such as:
If sensitive information is recorded automatically, users might not fully understand what is being stored.
That creates legal and ethical grey areas.
Why Stay on Windows 10?
Windows 10 is still receiving security updates until October 2026.
Experts say that for privacy-focused users, staying on Windows 10 during this support window may be the safer option.
It does not include some of the newer AI-driven tracking features found in Windows 11.
This gives users more control and fewer background AI processes collecting behavioral data.
Should You Switch to Linux?
After Windows 10 support ends, the experts recommend considering Linux.
Linux distributions are open source, which means their code can be publicly reviewed. This often increases transparency and user control.
However, switching operating systems depends on:
Linux is powerful, but it may require some learning for beginners.
FAQs
Final Thoughts
The debate around Windows 11 is not just about performance or design. It is about privacy, AI integration, and how much data users are comfortable sharing.
If privacy is your top priority, staying on Windows 10 for now may be a reasonable choice. And as always, understanding the features you enable is the first step to protecting your digital life.
